Wildlife With Teeth Bill Progressing in Illinois General Assembly
By JoshMogerman in News on Apr 6, 2014 8:00PM
In an environment dominated by glass and steel, the occasional glimpses at honest-to-goodness nature around Chicagoland never cease to thrill. Those glimpses are part of the reason we have followed the various incursions of wildlife into northern Illinois’ concrete jungle with such interest—especially with regular reports of pumas popping up nearby.
The most recent confirmed mountain lion encounter ended badly late last year when state wildlife officials capped a cougar west of Chicago.
It was the fourth big cat killed in the state since 2002, a trend some researchers believe may increase as the Midwestern population grows.
And the wildlife resurgence in the region is broader than that. Black bear populations established in Wisconsin and Missouri, and despite all the political controversy about wolves in the Northern Rockies, there are far more of them living in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin.
When those critters hit the Land of Lincoln, they can be shot on sightwith no questions asked. We have noted the need for updates in state law several times. The Trib has editorialized forcefully on the issue.
It seems that folks in Springfield are listening.
A bill in the Illinois Senate would amend the wildlife code to include wolves, bears and mountain lions on the list of protected species. After breezing out of committee, the bill sponsored State Sen. Linda Holmes (D-42), a former Brookfield Zoo volunteer, is expected to receive a vote later this week.
If the bill becomes law, Illinoisans will still be able to protect themselves should wildlife conflicts arise—but it is hoped that these added protections can keep the door open to a return of a remnant of the state’s formerly rich natural history and biodiversity.