A mountain lion is on the move through southwestern Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which confirmed multiple sightings.
The University of Illinois extension warns to leave it alone and let it roam. Experts say big predators like mountain lions, black bears, and wolves are rare but not unheard of in Illinois. Individual large predators have regularly reappeared over the past few decades, crossing from other states, with many sightings resulting from an increased use of trail cameras.
It is unlikely that an apex predator will stay because there is not enough contiguous forested habitat, even in southern Illinois, for large predators. Mountain lions have a minimum home range of 70 square miles.
The extension says those in Jackson and Union counties should keep pets and children indoors or under supervision.
Mountain lions are protected, and it is unlawful to hunt, kill, or harass them unless they pose an imminent threat to a person or property, which is rare.