Wolves in Plainfield, Illinois? Resident Reports Sighting

Since 2000, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has reported several confirmed sightings — but none in Will County.

• By Shannon Antinori
• March 29, 2013

   

A Plainfield reader took to Patch’s Facebook page this week to report an unusual sighting. Samantha Torres said she saw a large group of what she believed to be wolves on Indian Boundary Road between Renwick and County Line roads at around 6:15 p.m. Monday. While Plainfield has had its fill of coyote sightings in recent months, Torres said the animals she saw were much bigger than coyotes, which are typically 44 to 54 inches long, 15 to 17 inches tall and weigh between 22 and 42 pounds.

A representative from Will County Animal Control said the agency has not received any reports of wolf sightings. “There really aren’t any wolves in this area,” she said, “My first thought would be that it was a coyote.” Occasionally, residents mistake especially large coyotes for wolves, she noted, but added that in this case, “I can’t be positive of that.”

Because animal control does not handle reports of unusual wildlife, she referred Patch to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. An IDNR rep did not immediately reply to messages left by Patch, but the organization has confirmed numerous sightings of gray wolves in Illinois since 2000.
According to the IDNR, wolves were no longer living in Illinois by 1860. The organization is unaware of any self-sustaining wolf packs or populations in the state, but noted that for the last decade or so, there have been documented reports of wolves moving through or temporarily living in Illinois.

The following sightings have been confirmed by IDNR:

• A female wolf that had been radio-collared in Wisconsin was tracked into Stephenson County in December 2012
• Another female wolf was trapped and released in Whiteside County in December 2012
• A male wolf and female wolf were killed about four miles apart from each other in Jo Daviess County in 2011
• A male wolf was killed by a coyote hunter in Kane County in 2009
• A male wolf was killed by a coyote hunter in Jo Daviess County in 2008
• A male wolf was killed by a vehicle in Lake County in 2005
• A male wolf was shot in Pike County in 2005
• A male wolf was shot during a coyote hunt in Marshall County in 2002

“Six of the nine wolves were young males,” the IDNR report states. “Young wolves (3 years old or less) leave their native packs and may travel long distances to either try to establish a pack of their own or to join another pack. This is typical wolf behavior.”

Torres said she was too scared to attempt to get photos of the wolves — nine total — she believes she saw Monday night. But her account was backed up by another Patch Facebook fan, who said she saw a wolf near Argonne national lab nearly four years ago. “Then last spring I was certain there was a wolf waiting for traffic at the intersection of Book [Road] and 75^th,” she wrote. “I was told I was crazy and these were just big coyotes because there are no wolves in IL. Not true. They are here.” 

How to report a sighting

Gray wolves resemble coyotes but are taller, heavier and live in packs, according to IDNR. They can live to be up to 13 years old. They are typically 4.5 to 6 feel long, and 27 to 33 inches tall. Weight typically ranges from 60 to 130 pounds for adult males and 45 to 80 pounds for females.

The animals are listed as a threatened species throughout Illinois; south of Interstate 80, they are classified as a federally endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Residents can report wolf sightings to IDNR by calling 217-782-6302 or submitting a report online by clicking here.

IDNR also asks residents to report sightings of other unusual wildlife, such as mountain lions, black bears, armadillos, American elk and non-native deer.

source