Karen Binder, Field Editor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Now that gray wolves are a protected species in Illinois, work is underway to establish rules and policies on how to handle these large carnivores when they cross paths with humans.
Illinois lawmakers last spring passed laws identifying the wolves, as well as black bears and cougars, as a protected species and to develop methods allowing the animals to best co-exist with humans.
The best way to start this task, explained Mark Alessi, acting director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife Resources, is to create a management plan that includes the public’s opinions. The last round of surveys is out in the mail now and will be collected until February.
No, this does not mean that IDNR is moving, or “translocating,” these apex predators into the state to start breeding populations, Alessi said.
In fact, Illinois is far from an ideal home for bears and cougars, especially. Instead, the management plan will help guide how much human interaction is needed when these animals naturally range into Illinois.
“The animals don’t know political borders,” Alessi said. “But there will be instances of human interaction. Our policy is to allow the animals to come into the state and to keep these animals wild. The survey will help us understand the public’s perception of the animals.
“If there’s a difference between our plan and the public’s opinion, then we need to decide how to go forward. The public’s opinion could lead to recommendations on how we handle the animals,” he continued.
Predator Sightings
Sightings for bears, cougars and wolves have been confirmed by IDNR throughout the state. In one recent situation, Alessi recalled that a black bear had treed itself near some houses, which prompted a call from the public.
The responding law enforcement and other agencies set up a perimeter and cleared the area so the bear could have enough time to climb out of the tree on its own and allowed it to safely vacate the area naturally.
“It’s a wild animal that has come in contact with humans. What are these responders going to do? Give it time to come down naturally or dart it and relocate it,” Alessi said.
Illinois is a suitable home for black bears and wolves, with at least 14 percent of the state’s area identified as suitable habitat, but only 7 percent for cougars, a 2012 IDNR report stated. It also noted that the lack of large, contiguous lands would not attract cougars to breed, but would be conducive to those traversing the area.
Most of this land is found in the Shawnee National Forest area of southern Illinois and forested areas north of the Illinois River, the report stated.
The largest breeding populations in the mid-continental U.S. for black bears are in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin; for cougars, Texas; and for wolves, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, the report said.
Illinois Limited
Illinois, in general, is a poor habitat for any of these animal populations because of its open rural regions and densely populated areas. The sparse human population and heavily forested cover of the Shawnee National Forest is the best potential habitat for all of them.
That’s why the survey was sent to those people who likely would have highest potential contact with the animals. This includes hunters, livestock producers and residents in close proximity to a carnivore-breeding population.
Craig Miller is leader of the Human Dimensions Research Program with the Illinois Natural History Survey’s Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois in Champaign. His program has been contracted to conduct the survey, compile the results and generate a report to the IDNR.
Miller said that data collection is on-going at this time and will continue for approximately another six weeks. The surveys are suspended over the holidays.
The cost of the survey is paid from the institute’s annual research budget. Miller and Alessi both emphasized that cost is funded by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant.
Specific costs will not be known until the project is completed, Miller said.
“It is important to know that no Illinois state tax dollars from General Revenue Fund or any other state sources are used for this project,” he said.