Cougars In Illinois?
By: Web Producer
Updated: September 7, 2007
Residents of one southern Illinois town are concerned cougars may be in the area. A horse could be a victim of an attack by the big cats. Danny and Linda Koontz told police they found one of their horses dead in the pasture Sunday morning. It looked as if the equine had been attacked. The injury was to the left hind leg and upper back areas. The injury was so substantial, the horse bled to death.
The owner indicated that a couple of days prior to the incident, he had seen a couple of large yellow cats in that area. Bobcats are sometimes seen in this area, but they weigh an average 20 pounds. The cats described in this case, about 150lbs, more like the size of a cougar.
There have been two confirmations of cougars in Illinois since 2002. That year, one was killed in by a train in Randolph county, another shot by a hunter in 2004. There have been numerous more sightings in the midwest states, but not validated.
There is no confirmation the cats are cougars at this point, but authorities advise using caution, especially in rural areas after dark.
