Seen An Armadillo, Wolf, Or Black Bear In Illinois? Let IDNR Know

There's been quite a buzz over the last couple of years about black bears in Illinois. Even though Illinois doesn't have a native population of black bears, they've been showing up in our state after leaving their home states of Wisconsin and Missouri. When that happens, reports of sightings come flying in to TV and radio stations, and sighting reports are filed with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

While black bears don't make Illinois or Iowa their home state, they certainly do in Missouri, where estimates place their population number at around 1,000 black bears. A lot more black bears are in Wisconsin, with estimates putting their numbers at around 25,000.

But, what about armadillos and gray wolves? Or, a mountain lion? Have you seen any of them as you make your way around the state of Illinois? If you have, or if you do, the IDNR wants to know all about it.

I Didn't Know Until I Saw The IDNR Asking For Reports Of Sightings That There Actually Were Armadillos In Illinois

Armadillos are definitely not native to Illinois, but we've evidently got some of them now, according to WildLifeIllinois.org:

Armadillos are not native to Illinois, but they have moved into the southern part of the state over the last several decades. There are documented cases of armadillos successfully breeding in southern Illinois. It is expected that the armadillo population will slowly move north over time. The IDNR is only interested in recent armadillo sightings in the central and northern counties.

The central and northern counties that the IDNR want to hear from are Adams, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, DeWitt, DuPage, Ford, Fulton, Grundy,  Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Ogle, Peoria, Piatt, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermilion, Warren, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.

IDNR Also Would Like A Heads-Up If You've Seen A Mountain Lion (Cougar) Or A Gray Wolf

If you're shocked at the idea of a mountain lion (also called cougars or pumas) roaming around Illinois, you'll probably be very surprised to know that there have been 11 confirmed mountain lions in Illinois between 2002 and 2025. Illinois has no native population of mountain lions, so the visitors likely came from the Black Hills of South Dakota or Nebraska.

Like black bears, armadillos, and mountain lions, gray wolves don't necessarily call Illinois home, but they've been known to visit the Land of Lincoln. Gray wolves in Illinois were virtually wiped out in the 1860s by over-hunting, but there are over 1,000 gray wolves in Wisconsin, and over 3,000 gray wolves in Minnesota--and some like to go visit other states.

In Illinois, there have been 11 confirmed sightings since 2002.

If you spot any of these animals here in Illinois, here's where you file a report.