I live in Illinois too and haven't heard anything recently about the sightings but I've heard in years past about them. I've heard there were sighting around the Coffeen power plant and in and around Ramsey which is in Fayette county. I've never talked to anyone whoe says they have saw one just heard in a round-a-bouth way that somone has seen them. I think its possible that there are some here. They are a very stealthly animal and I believe its posssible for them to exist without being seen very much.