A tip of the hat to the State of Illinois-----While their Department of Natural Resources believes mountain lion sightings are isolated occurrences for now, the department has been preparing for the time when mountain lions, wolves and black bears may once again establish populations in the state............... Illinois has funded scientific research in which suitable habitat models have been developed for these species, and it has also researched attitudes and opinions of Illinoisans regarding these large carnivores.....................The Chicago Tribune Newspaper recently published an Op Ed piece stating that "there is room on our Illinois landscape for apex predators, but these species also will require management as they re-establish and grow in numbers" ................."Viable ways will need to be put in place to deal with human-wildlife interactions, nuisance animals, and to keep a balance in predator-prey numbers within suitable habitat areas"......" Placing the species on a State protected list is a necessary step".......................

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Chicago Tribune

Illinois plans for return of wildlife like cougars

State has funded research in which suitable habitat models have been developed for these species

By Marc Miller

December 10, 2013

Is there a future for mountain lions, wolves and black bears in Illinois?

The recent arrival of a mountain lion — also known as a cougar — near Morrison in Whiteside County generated much public discussion about the future of this species in Illinois and the possible return of other apex predators such as the gray wolf and the American black bear. If the term "apex predator" is unfamiliar, these are animals at the top of their food chains, with few or no larger or more nimble predators pursuing them.

While the Illinois Department of Natural Resources believes mountain lion sightings are isolated occurrences for now, the department has been preparing for the time when mountain lions, wolves and black bears may once again establish populations in the state. The state has funded scientific research in which suitable habitat models have been developed for these species, and it has also researched attitudes and opinions of Illinoisans regarding these large carnivores.

In the spring of 2011, we supported a bill in the General Assembly that sought to add the gray wolf, American black bear and mountain lion to the list of protected species under the Illinois Wildlife Code. While that effort was not successful, the IDNR remains interested in finding ways to achieve protections for these animals by working cooperatively with a wide range of constituencies.

There is room on our Illinois landscape for apex predators, but these species also will require management as they re-establish and grow in numbers to deal with human-wildlife interactions, nuisance animals, and to keep a balance in predator-prey numbers within suitable habitat areas. Placing the species on the protected list is a necessary step.

While IDNR surveys reveal that a large number of people in Illinois support carnivore protection, they also show that a majority of people don't want these animals close to their homes and that there are differing views on how mountain lions, and other large predators, should be managed within the state.

Aldo Leopold, the father of modern conservation, wrote his 1933 book "Game Management" at the time when many of North America's big game animals, such as wolves and deer, were nearly extinct, and the wildlife management profession was beginning to be institutionalized. Leopold stated, "The hope of the future lies not in curbing the influence of human occupancy — it is already too late for that — but in creating a better understanding of the extent of that influence and a new ethic for its governance."

In the 80 years since, we have seen great strides in conservation and species recovery, including deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, beaver, raccoons, river otters and large carnivores. Countless sportsmen, conservationists, land owners, environmentalists and natural resource professionals have all played a significant part in these accomplishments.

 Now we must focus on the next step of creating a better understanding and new ethics to support the future management and protection of large carnivores in Illinois.

Marc Miller is director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.