Eyewitness Just Spotted a Mountain Lion in Central Illinois

If you plan to adventure in the woods of central Illinois, you might want to be aware that an apex predator has been spotted as an eyewitness swears he saw a big ole mountain lion.

I just saw this eyewitness report shared to the Illinois sub-Reddit. It was a post asking the question "Mountain lions in Central Illinois?"

Mountain lions in Central Illinois?
byu/scarekrow25 inillinois

This is more proof that there are big cats in the Illinois woods as it was April 13, 2025 when a mountain lion was spotted on a Pike County trail camera

Are mountain lions native to Illinois?

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will tell you that mountain lions are not native to the Land of Lincoln, but lone big cats can sometimes be found there. Authorities believe that mountain lions that end up in Illinois are just traveling through the state and don't have a habitat there.

What should you do if you see a mountain lion?

A mountain lion will normally avoid contact with humans unless it feels trapped or provoked. You should never turn your back and/or run from a mountain lion as that will make you appear as prey. Give the animal room and slowly back away. If the cat approaches you aggressively, throw up your hands and throw rocks or sticks. Mountain lion attacks are rare, but it's important that you understand the do's and don'ts if an encounter happens. Your life might depend on it.