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