Bear sighted last weekend in southern Illinois

A sighting of a bear in southern Illinois last weekend was verified by the Randolph County Sheriff's office.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the sheriff's department said they were notified of the possible bear sighting about 12 miles northwest of Chester, and 50 miles west of Carbondale. Deputies investigated and verified that the bear sighting was valid. 

They encourage the public not to approach the bear and to allow it to move freely.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was made aware of the sighting and have been in contact with their wildlife biologist.

Bear sightings in Illinois are infrequent but not uncommon. There are currently no resident populations of black bear in Illinois, but the potential exists for individuals from existing populations in Missouri and Wisconsin to travel into the state.

Missouri conservation agents say the bear population is increasing in their state, including the St. Louis region.

Last June, a black bear walked across southern Illinois in about ten days from Mascoutah to Rend Lake and Carmi, then across the Wabash River to Indiana.

Wildlife biologists note that bears traveling solo will generally move in a discernible direction and not wander aimlessly.

The traveling bears are almost always young males, motivated to search for safe territory to live in and seek out females. Most are 1.5 to 2 years old, and have recently left their mothers, often driven away by their fathers who may otherwise kill them in order to remain king of their territory.

The website Wildlife Illinois reports that there have been at least six bears confirmed in Illinois since 2008.




Photo: Randolph County IL Sheriff Facebook