(Photo courtesy Valerie Abbott)

Illinois has three confirmed cougar kills in recent years:

15th July 2000: Male cougar killed by a train in Randolph County.

Big Cat Comeback?

4th December 2004: Male cougar found by a bow hunter in New Boston (Mercer County).

Mercer County Cougar

The Mercer County Cougar

14th March 2008: Male cougar shot and killed in Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago (Cook County).

Cougar Killed in Chicago

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Links to various articles pertaining to big cats in Illinois.

Alleged Cougar Sightings Busted By IDNR

The beast of the bluffs

Big Cat Comeback?

Big Cat Marks

Black Panthers in Illinois

Cougars in Illinois?

Cougar Killed in Chicago

Cougar sightings catch authorities’ attention

Illinois DNR debunks cougar claim

Illinois’ Recent Puma Kills

Just a wild cat chase?

Midwest Cougar Sightings

Phantom Panthers & Big Cats Of Illinois

They’r b-a-a-a-c-k

What is a Black Panther?

Wildcat scare keeps Palmyra pupils inside / DNR officials doubt it

cougarnet.org