Possible Madison County Cougar Sighting
We received the following email on June 16:
I’m a little upset as I write this as I’ve just spoken with the IDNR office in Alton and am not happy at all with their response. As crazy as this sounds, my husband saw what he believe is a cougar, mountain cat or whatever one wishes to called them laying on the nature trail between Pontoon Beach (Lake Drive) and Granite City (Mockingbird Lane) in Madison Co. IL.
He was within 35 feet of the animal when it spranged to its feet and took off into the trees/bushes on the side of the trail. He knew it was of the cat family because he thought it looked like a cheata (not spotted, it was a light brown color) because it had a long tail and the way the animal took off, it wasn’t a run but a leaping motion as regular house cats do. When I questioned him more about what he saw I asked how large he thought the animal was, he said it was about as big as the Aketa we had at one time - which would be about 55 pounds or so. The time when he saw the animal was between 4 - 4:30pm on Sat. afternoon.
The nature trail sits back about 1/2 mile in the area he saw the animal off of Hwy. 162, the trail does have some wooded area around it - but mostly farm land on one side and the back of the golf course on the other side. It also is in the area of 2 subdivisions - one just a few hundred feet located off Mockingbird Lane, the other on the opposite side located between Hwy. 162 & Horseshoe Road (old State Aid 35).
The reason I’m upset is after talking to the IDNR office, I felt a little foolish. The gentleman there thought perhaps my husband could have seen a river otter - I just showed my husband a photo of a river otter, though they are similar in color and do have a good size tail - it is not what he saw. What is bothering me at this time is that because no one else has reported any sightings of this animal (or one like it) and since we do not have any photos or foot prints of the animal, I am under the impression that the IDNR is not concerned about a sighting of a large cat like animal in an area where people do live….until there is either more reports of the animal or if something else happens and its not necessary at this time to send someone (who I feel would be more of an expert in what to look for) out to the location the animal had been seen.
Earlier this morning I called the local police station and left information with the adminstrative office that was to be passed on to the Animal Control office, perhaps they have checked into it but no one has called to indicate that they have. Of course I am one that feels that people should be aware of the possibility there might be a large cat like animal in their area, just to be on the safe side - but I felt from what the IDNR said it better not to cause any unnecessary concern at this time. So I am typing this email to your site in hope that you or other readers may have suggestions on what or what not to do.
Thank you,
Vicki McCauley
“So I am typing this email to your site in hope that you or other readers may have suggestions on what or what not to do.”
Go purchase a Trail Camera.
Place it in the same area that you seen the UFA (Unidentified Fleeing Animal).
Get a photo.
Post photo.
Go about your normal life.
Official ignorance is the order of the day, and I am sure it is because the Eastern Cougar (E of the Mississippi) is a protected species and the Western cougar (West of the Mississippi) is not. A native breeding population in Illinois would mean the cougar would enjoy protected status; IF the animal comes over to Ilinois from the West however, the animal is not protected. While cougar experts seem to agree that the cougars spotted in Illinois are from the West, there is a real political issue here which could be driving the facts.
Thank you for your input. I wish I could afford to purchase a trail camera, but can not - I would think that this would be / should be the respondsibility of the IDNR when something is reported - but I’m guessing not ??
Whatever the political issues may be among our districts - someone needs to take a better look at the many reports that are being made throughout our state. It would be a shame to learn of someone being hurt or killed just because no one wishes to consider there might be / could be a growing population of these animals which seems not to be discourage of being close to areas where humans are.
After telling my sister what my husband saw and the conversation I had with the gentleman at the IDNR and his lack of concern….she called him a blockhead and suggest contacting our local newspaper where if “something else happens” those living in/around the area would maybe at least have some prior knowledge of a sighting - confirmed or unconfirmed.
Vicki
Don’t feed wildlife and don’t leave pet food outside.
Keep pets secure. Roaming dogs and cats are easy morsels for mountain lions.
Don’t approach mountain lions. Most want to avoid humans, so give them time and room to get away from you.
Keep your kids close, especially between dusk and dawn, when the animals hunt.
Never run from a lion. It triggers their prey drive. Instead, make eye contact and stand your ground. Try to make yourself look big and aggressive. Raise your arms or a jacket. Speak slowly and loudly. Throw stones and branches, if you can, without bending or turning away.
The lion is looking for a meal, not a fight.
Plus, check the Links on the website (upper right hand corner) for more information about the puma; Tawny puffs of smoke so secretive.
http://www.easterncougar.org
Don’t fear them but, be cautious as with any wild animal.
krenb
Vicki,
The IDNR Game Wardens are not the personnal investigators and they are not animal control. They are like police as they are to enforce the law that has been established. They can report back findings from the field but are not responsible to track down every creature that someone thinks they might see.
http://dnr.state.il.us/Law3/career.htm#employment
You’ll need to track them yourself.
Vicki,
It appears your not familiar with the job responsibility of the IDNR Conservation Police.
http://dnr.state.il.us/Law3/career.htm#employment
Vicki,
Please educate yourself on the job duties of IDNR Conservation Police.
http://dnr.state.il.us/Law3/career.htm#employment
Vicki,
Please educate yourself to the IDNR’s Conservation Police job duties.
Bill E. Bob is your typical police, around when you don’t need him, but nowhere to be found when you do. Then when they ado happen to be around, they get it all wrong. This one’s an asshole to boot.
Beth, Thank you for your comment.
This site was acting up when I posted IDNR responsibility link and acted like it was not being posted therefore it posted the same thing multiple times. How about you go track down this wild animal since you find it to be a simple task. Have you ever tried to track a wild cat? What do you expect IDNR to find? If it was so easy hunters, farmers and local animal control would take care of the problem themselves.
Nope, I have never tried to track a big cat. In fact, in most cases I don’t want you to track them either. I think they are awesome, beautiful creatures. I’m just tired of the DNR acting like people are reporting UFO sightings. The duties of the DNR DOES include investigation, and I do think the DNR needs to check out sighting areas to possibly confirm there was a big cat in the area so communities, camp grounds, hikers, etc. can take the proper preventative measures. I believe there are a lot of big cats in the state, and the DNR just doesn’t want to mess with it. It would mean you would have to get out from behind your desk.
This time of year with the ground hard, grass tall and leaves on the trees, with farm fields mostly no-tilled it is almost impossible to find a trace of a cat. If there was snow on the ground, spring rain with soft, muddy fields tracks could be found. The IDNR in Southern Illinois has been reduced substantially so they spend much time watching boaters this time of year. (Illegal creel limits, Drinking while boating, etc.) There are cougars but they are so few that reports of sightings is about all they can do. It is best to tell your neighbors that hunt or farm as they spend each day in the area. Many of they are glad to hear of it as they will try to carry cameras or put out trail cameras to get a photo. I don’t mean to sound like an ass but IDNR cut backs have strained the effectiveness of the conservation officers. Dont’t be a Victim by waiting for IDNR - create a neighbor hood watch by chatting with your neighbors.