KURT ERICKSON
H&R Springfield Bureau Chief
SPRINGFIELD – Although sightings of bears, cougars and wolves are relatively rare in Illinois, the trio are now a protected species under state law.
In action Monday, Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation placing gray wolves, American black bears and cougars in the state’s wildlife code. The move is designed to pave the way for state outdoor officials to begin drafting management plans for each of the animals.
“We’re at the beginning of a learning curve,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris Young.
All three animals have been sighted in the northern half of the state in recent years, including an incident in which a DNR employee last year killed a cougar near Morrison.
Earlier this summer, a black bear made a 300-mile trek through the northern part of the state, providing officials with a test case on how to deal with the animal as it interacted with people.
A key part of the new law will be educating Illinoisans on how to deal with animals that haven’t had much of a presence in the state in 150 years, Young said.
Although the animals have made incursions back to the state, Illinois’ wide expanses of cropland makes it unlikely the animals will make a home here, officials say.
According to habitat models, only about 14.7 percent of Illinois’ area is suitable for black bears, 6.6 percent for mountain lions and 14 percent for gray wolves.
“We just don’t have an awful lot of space for large animals,” Young said.
While the new law provides legal protection for the animals, landowners are allowed to protect lives and property if there is an imminent threat.
The legislation is Senate Bill 3049.