Young mountain lion’s journey from Nebraska to Illinois ends in a sanctuary

UPDATE, Oct. 28: A mountain lion that traveled through three states was tranquilized after straying too close to homes and businesses in Springfield, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services sedated the cougar at about noon Friday, Oct. 28, and the young male will be taken to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Indiana.

“I am confident that the mountain lion will be protected and cared for at its new home,” IDNR Director Colleen Callahan said in a news release. The Exotic Feline Rescue Center provides a 260-acre home and veterinary care to exotic cats.

Illinois wildlife officials said they had hoped the mountain lion could have been sent back to Nebraska, but the state’s wildlife department “declined our offer to send the cat back to where he came from.”

Moving the mountain lion to a sanctuary became “the best course of action for the animal and the public,” according to a statement shared on Facebook. The cougar was posing “an imminent threat to residents and property and therefore needed to be removed.”

“Thank you to our hardworking wildlife staff and conservation police and our partners across federal, state, and local agencies for handling this difficult situation with the professionalism and care that this beautiful wild animal and concerned residents deserve,” Callahan said.

UPDATE, Oct. 26: The young male mountain lion on a journey east from Nebraska made it to the western edge of Springfield on Wednesday, Oct. 26, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Wildlife biologists and conservation authorities “are monitoring the situation.”

“Remember, the animal has traveled to Illinois from Nebraska with no reported conflicts with humans, including when it passed through the outskirts of Lincoln, Nebraska,” officials said.

The original story continues below.

A young mountain lion that was part of a cougar population in Nebraska embarked on a multi-state journey this year, officials said.

The male cat has since made it through Iowa and is now traveling in central Illinois.

“This by itself is a rare and exciting occurrence,” the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said in an Oct. 24 Facebook post. “Even more exciting is that we know where he came from.”

The animal was fitted with a GPS collar in November 2021 by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission “as part of an ongoing research project on their mountain lion population, including movement patterns.”

The mountain lion was first reported in western Illinois in early October, authorities said. He moved through McDonough County and is also believed to have spent time in Cass County, about 45 miles southeast.

But before he got to Illinois, officials say he made it through Nebraska and Iowa without any known trouble.

“These animals can cover great distances,” officials said. It’s unclear if the cougar will continue moving east, but wildlife officials plan to continue tracking its location.

Mountain lions in Illinois

The mountain lion population in Illinois was eliminated by 1870 due to habitat loss and hunting, according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

In the last few years, though, officials have confirmed sightings of cougars moving through Illinois. Recently, a mountain lion was hit and killed by a vehicle in DeKalb County, about 60 miles west of Chicago.

“There is no evidence that resident breeding populations of cougars exist in Illinois at this time,” officials said. “As populations in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Rocky Mountain states increase, it is possible that cougars will disperse through Illinois in search of new territories.”

Mountain lions have been protected in the state since 2015, making hunting, killing or harassing them illegal unless you or your property are in imminent danger.

If you see one that does not back off, officials said you should stand tall, wave your arms, throw rocks or other objects and scream. Slowly back away from any cougar while maintaining eye contact. Do not run away.

Authorities ask you to report any cougar sighting.

This story was originally published October 25, 2022 at 8:21 AM with the headline "Young mountain lion’s journey from Nebraska to Illinois ends in a sanctuary."