Black bear sighting in Illinois, IDNR warns
CHICAGO (WGN) — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is warning locals after a confirmed sighting of a black bear in southwestern Illinois.
According to IDNR officials, someone first observed the bear on Monday in St. Clair County. An IDNR district wildlife biologist confirmed the sighting on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday and Thursday, still in St. Clair County.
'The bear has had no interaction with humans, though it has damaged some bee hives on private property,' officials stated in a release.
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While black bear sightings are rare in Illinois, IDNR officials warn that additional bear sightings could occur in Illinois in the summer due to their population in neighboring states, such as Wisconsin and Missouri.
Past black bear sightings in state counties include Jo Daviess, Lake, Saline, Pope, Williamson, and Jackson.
To limit human interaction with bears, IDNR reminds locals of the following:
Never feed or approach bears.
Secure food, garbage, and recycling.
Remove or limit use of bird feeders when bears are active.
Avoid leaving pet food outdoors.
Thoroughly clean and store grills and smokers after each use.
Alert neighbors to bear activity.
Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines
IDNR officials add that they will continue monitoring sightings of the black bear.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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