Black Bear in Illinois

Redskin_Archer · 02-09-2009, 05:49 AM

I posted a while back about a bear sighting in bureau county Il. I have an update. The bear was recently trapped. 200 pound male. It was brought to a zoo to have tests done. I hope this is a wild bear, and signs of future bear in the area. Where do you guys think it came from??

buffhntr · 02-09-2009, 05:52 AM

Where is this county located in the state. Yes I am with you I hope there are a bunch of them waiting to move in

Redskin_Archer · 02-09-2009, 06:09 AM

Bureau county is along rt. 80. It is near where The Illinois River goes from East/West to North South.

MeanV2 · 02-09-2009, 06:17 AM

It could be Wild but that wouldn't be my guess. There are several captive Bears in IL. and they do get loose sometimes.

There have been rumors of Bears in Shawnee National Forest for a long time. I have hunted there several times, and have 2 buddies that hunt there a lot. None of us or anyone we know has sighted a Bear. I think they could survive in that area, but it would be very easy for them to become a problem also.

Bears are really not cut out to make it in rural areas. I would say there will never be a huntable population here, nor does the DNR want one

Dan

Schultzy · 02-09-2009, 07:26 AM

From what I understand this most likely was a bear that someone previously had.

buffhntr · 02-09-2009, 09:36 AM

There are bears in WI so why couldnt a male bear be wondering around during breeding season and come a little to far south

MeanV2 · 02-09-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: buffhntr

There are bears in WI so why couldnt a male bear be wondering around during breeding season and come a little to far south

Not saying it isn't possible, but Bears aren't retarded (at least most of them

) They usually head to where the females are in abundance.

Not away from them[8D]

Dan

buffhntr · 02-09-2009, 10:48 AM

I agree but a young male could have got ran off by a older more dominant male and searching for his own area to establish

patchholder · 02-09-2009, 01:36 PM

On average that bear would be about 4 years old and not dumb by any means, seems very unlikely that he would be that far south but I suppose it could be. They usually don't travel far distances from there home either.

Schultzy · 02-09-2009, 01:50 PM

Males will travel a long ways In the spring time looking for females, farther then most think. However this bear In Illinois Is said to possibly be a captive bear from someone which means It most likely wasn't a wild bear to begin with.