Unusual Wildlife Sightings - Illinois DNRT heDepartmentofNatural Resourceswouldlikeyourhelpin reportingsightingsofunusual wildlife—mountainlion,wolf,black bear,armadillo,elkornon-nativedeer—

T he Department of NaturalResources would like your help inreporting sightings of unusual

wildlife—mountain lion, wolf, blackbear, armadillo, elk or non-native deer—to monitor range expansions of wildlifespecies or their escape from captive situ-ations. All of these species typicallyavoid direct contact with people. Inmost cases, it is best to simply alert thepublic and monitor these animals whilethey are in an area. Removal of the ani-mal is usually not necessary or practical.

Mountain lion, wolf, elk andblack bear were extirpated (eliminat-ed) from Illinois by the early to mid1800s due to habitat alteration andhunting pressure. Today, no wildbreeding populations of these speciesexist in Illinois. However, dependingon the species, transient animals couldfind their way into Illinois. Transientanimals are typically single, oftensubadult animals born in the wild andtraveling from surrounding states insearch of a new home area.

The nine-banded armadillo, aquirky, armor-plated mammal native tothe New World tropics, has undergonean amazing range expansion, helped by

humans intentionally and inadvertentlytransporting this species to new places.From 1990-2006 at least 136 armadilloswere reported from 42 Illinois counties.

Elk and non-native deer (such asfallow deer or sika deer) are sometimessighted after escaping from captivity.

Unusual Wildlife Sightings

I f you have seen one of these speciesin Illinois, complete the Unusual

Wildlife Sightings report on the Livingwith Wildlife Web site at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/wildlife.

Be as specific as possible with yourdescription of the animal.

If available, include good qualitydigital images or photographs of theanimal. Tracks (preferably with a rulernext to them for scale), scat or preyremains can all be useful in helping abiologist confirm the identity of theanimal.

Large mammals can travel manymiles in a single day, so reporting sight-ings quickly is important.

If you are not sure about what typeof animal you saw, use the speciesdescriptions and photographs availableon the Living with Wildlife Web site.

Also Report!

A lligator snapping turtles are a state-endangered species and fully protect-

ed by law. Reintroductions are underway to return this turtle to strategicwatersheds in Illinois. Sightings of turtles(digital photos or 35 mm color printsappreciated) should be sent to IllinoisDNR, Endangered Species Program, OneNatural Resources Way, Springfield, IL62702-1271 or endspec@illinois.gov.

By reporting sightings of

unusual species, you help Illinois

biologists develop an understand-

ing of the status of rare, transient

or escaped captive-bred animals.