Science & Nature
Bears Have Been Spotted in Southern Illinois. Officials Say Northerners Should Also Be Prepared for Furry Visitors
A black bear seen in unincorporated Antioch, June 2023. (Lake County IL Sheriff's Office / Facebook)
After confirming several black bear sightings in southern Illinois in recent weeks, wildlife officials issued a reminder to residents in northern Illinois that furry guests might also pay a visit here.
“With established (black bear) populations in the adjacent states of Missouri and Wisconsin, occasional summer movements by bears into Illinois are anticipated,” the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said in a statement.
During early summer months, yearling bears leave their birth ranges to look for food and to find a permanent home range, officials explained. Adult males travel in search of mates, and nursing females venture further afield for food.
It’s unclear, officials added, whether they’re dealing with a case of one bear wandering from county to county in southern Illinois, or if there’s more than one bear on the move.
In 2023, a pair of bear sightings were reported in Lake County.
Bears once roamed freely in Illinois but were eliminated from the state by 1870; today there are no resident black bears in the state. Wisconsin’s black bear population, meanwhile, has been growing steadily since the 1980s and is now estimated at 24,000 bears. The bears are considered common in central Wisconsin and “abundant” in northern regions, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Though the bears aren’t necessarily a threat to human safety, direct encounters should be avoided if possible, IDNR said. The best way to do that is to secure food sources, including bird feeders, barbecue grills, pet food and garbage.
People who come across a bear should give the animal space and back away slowly and quietly, according to IDNR.
Bear sightings should be reported online.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
