Cougar near Sandwich, IL? (Chicago, Downers Grove: eat, swimming, activity)

[WLUTZ]

A friend of mine believes he spotted a cougar in the Sandwich area.

Anyone hear about this or possibly see it?

It appears they are making their way down the Mississippi River Valley from Minnesota & Wisconsin. I've read there is a very small population in Iowa.

[Steve-o]

I was told they were only down further south, near the Ozarks in Missouri. Bobcats have been seen in that area, which makes me leary everytime Im out herpin on their glades.

[gardener34]

There were reports of a cougar being seen near dekalb, years ago. I am surmising that it could have been an escaped exotic pet. People tend to not report them lost, cause they aren't supposed to have them in the first place.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by gardener34

There were reports of a cougar being seen near dekalb, years ago. I am surmising that it could have been an escaped exotic pet. People tend to not report them lost, cause they aren't supposed to have them in the first place.

Good point there too. Alot of the sightings are more than likely the result of escaped pets. Remember the alligator they found swimming down the Fox River a few years back? Some people keep some crazy pets, like the guy in Cortland who got busted last year with the (2) 8 ft American alligators, and a Pakistani cobra as well as a green mamba.

[ahava]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Some people keep some crazy pets, like the guy in Cortland who got busted last year with the (2) 8 ft American alligators, and a Pakistani cobra as well as a green mamba.

My brother's friend has a wallaby from Australia. It's actually really cute. But if anyone ever sees a wallaby running around Downers Grove, I know who's missing their exotic pet.

[gardener34]

There were reports of a wallaby in Westchester, IL about 10+ years ago. A friend swore that he saw it eating his tomato plants.

[runninfiend]

It is highly unlikely.

However, there is some cougar activity in the midwest.

There have been verified sightings in south-central and central Iowa and southeastern Missouri.

Cougar Network reports that in Dec. of 2004 a hunter found the carcass of a cougar that had been killed by an arrow in New Boston, IL:

Mercer County, Illinois 12-04

I have heard rumors of there being cougar sightings around this area (central IL.), but I seriously doubt them. We simply don't have the levels of habitat needed to hide a cougar for very long without being killed or seen by lots of people. Western Illinois is the extreme eastern range that one would possibly wander, and that would be a rare thing.

I spend a lot of time in the woods around these parts and have never seen even a sign.

However, it far more plausible that a bobcat sighting may have occurred. Bobcats are common in southern Illinois and are actually found in all but three of Illinois' counties. They're not easy to spot due to their shy nature and small size, but it definitely possible. I have seen several that were snared in traps.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by ahava

My brother's friend has a wallaby from Australia. It's actually really cute. But if anyone ever sees a wallaby running around Downers Grove, I know who's missing their exotic pet.

A wallaby, eh? Cool. Never known anyone to keep one as a pet though. I did see a peacock in West Chicago when I was in junior high. Noone believed me until they saw it for themselves. No doubt another escaped pet.

[WLUTZ]

I tend to believe my buddy because he's a hunter and has seen a cougar before out in CO.

It was probably a far-ranging young male looking for new territory.

Thanks for the input, I find this very interesting.

[runninfiend]

Originally Posted by WLUTZ

I tend to believe my buddy because he's a hunter and has seen a cougar before out in CO.

It was probably a far-ranging young male looking for new territory.

Thanks for the input, I find this very interesting.

It is interesting. I would have him contact the DNR for sure. Any sign of track or sign in that immediate area? A hunter would think to check for that in the exact spot he saw the cat.