DEKALB COUNTY, Ill. — A mountain lion was hit by a vehicle and killed on I-88 in Dekalb County on Sunday, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
The animal has been transferred to the University of Illinois for a full necropsy and DNA analysis, which is being conducted to determine the animal's location of origin and its movement across the Midwest.
IDNR believes that the mountain lion could be the same animal captured on a trail camera in Whiteside County in late September.
The IDNR is currently tracking a different mountain lion that was first reported in western Illinois earlier this month. The mountain lion has been tracked since November 2021 by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as part of an ongoing research project.
Mountain lions have been protected in Illinois since 2015, and it is unlawful to hunt, kill, or harass them unless they pose an imminent threat to a person or property. The IDNR reminds the public that it is very rare for a mountain lion to pose a threat to people or property. However, if encountered and the animal does not immediately flee, people should stand tall, wave their arms, throw stones or other objects, and yell. Do not run, but slowly back away from the site, keeping an eye on the animal.
The public can report large carnivore sightings by clicking here.
IDNR will continue to closely monitor reports in accordance with its large carnivore response plan and work to mitigate threats to public safety and property. For more information on mountain lions in Illinois visit, click here.
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