RE: Black bear in Central Illinois???
Other than some river frontage here and there the only place I can think of a bear would be is Walnut Point SP near Oakland in that general area. And that is a well used park. I doubt a bear would want to hang around there. About 20 years ago hunting Hardin Co. we ran across a old timer who swears his group had come across some bear tracks in the Shawnee. It will be interesting to see what the outcome of the Hugo bear will be.