10 Illinois Places With the Most Mountain Lion Sightings

Mountain lions are not native to Illinois, but that does not mean they aren't spotted in the state. As a matter of fact, there are 10 areas in the Land of Lincoln that have reported the most mountain lion sightings over the years based on the most recent data.

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, there are no native mountain lion habitats in the state. But, they acknowledge that these big cats do travel to and through Illinois on occasion. Note that they have only officially confirmed barely over a dozen mountain lion sightings in the past 25 years. However, the process of confirmation is complicated and requires proof that can be verified that a mountain lion is present in a specific Illinois place. That doesn't stop many from reporting seeing what they believe are cougars. Here are the 10 locations where that's happened the most.

Why is Illinois a likely place where a mountain lion could create a habitat?

• Large blocks of forest
• Abundant deer populations
• Natural travel corridors such as river valleys and bluff systems

I have had numerous friends and family in Illinois that swear to me that they've seen and heard a mountain lion in Pike County. If you've ever heard a mountain lion's scream, it's not something you ever forget.

How do you know if you have a mountain lion nearby?

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources gives you guidelines to tell the difference between a mountain lion or some other creature. They say an average mountain lion length is from 60 to 95 inches and their height is 27 to 31 inches at the shoulder. Their tracks are typically 3 to 4 inches in length and 3 to 4½ inches wide, but if you see claw marks, that's probably not a mountain lion as they often walk with claws retracted.