RE: IDNR Snakes/Cats ?
I saw a cougar, (or at least a cat TWICE the size of a bobcat) up in northern-Illinois. I live in the N.E. corner of LaSalle county and I saw it while I was driving home late one night. It was about 100 yards ahead of me and crossed the road left to right. It was just barely inside the headlight-beams, but there was no doubt what it was.
I have a good friend who's a pretty experienced outdoorsman who saw a timber rattler crawl under his shed in northern Illinois. He lived in Tinley Park at the time. I doubt the DNR dropped them in the middle of town....
I think if an animal can walk, and it doesn't get shot or hit by a car/truck/train, it could end up anywhere.