Posted: Monday, December 29, 2014
The Times staff will be investigating new Illinois laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2015. Today, reporter
Charles Stanley looks at a new law protecting species returning to Illinois.
Mountain lions, gray wolves and American
black bears — now returning in limited numbers to Illinois — have been
added to the state’s list of protected species. “Wolves, mountain lions and black bears
have been absent from Illinois for more than 150 years,” said Illinois
Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller in a statement. “As the populations of these animals
continue to grow, we expect to see occasional individuals dispersing
from their current ranges into Illinois,” he said.
But the protection legislation, Public
Act 98-1033, also spells out conditions that allow landowners to kill
the animals if they are causing an immediate threat of physical harm or
death to a person, livestock, domestic animals or harm to structures or
other property.
The law allows landowners to kill a black bear or mountain lion if there is an imminent threat to lives and property. The law also allows landowners to apply for a nuisance permit to remove an animal that is not an immediate threat.
The gray wolf already receives legal
protection in Illinois from both the U.S. and Illinois Endangered
Species Acts. In these instances, endangered species law will be
followed. Due to its federal protection, rules for
killing a gray wolf south of Interstate 80 are more stringent. South of
Interstate 80, gray wolves may not be killed unless they present an
imminent threat to people. Any other killing requires state and federal
permits.
Large predator animals Question & Answer
Q. Is Illinois encouraging the return of large predators?
A. The Illinois Department of Natural
Resources is not actively working to restore gray wolves, American black
bears or mountain lions to Illinois. However, IDNR recognizes that
occasional individual animals are likely to make their way here. A
month-long visit to northern Illinois by a black bear last June
demonstrated the benefits of cooperation among state and local
government entities in monitoring the bear, but allowing it to remain a
wild animal. Public Act 98-1033 is a first necessary step that allows
the department to develop formal rules and protocols to manage these
species.
Q. What will IDNR do to manage wolves, bears and mountain lions?
A. IDNR biologists and the Illinois
Conservation Police are working together to develop protocols for
addressing interactions between people and wolves, bears and mountain
lions. Conservation Police will share this information with local law
enforcement agencies, the likely first-responders in the event of a
sighting or nuisance call. Currently, Illinois Conservation Police
officers are allowing these animals to go on their way unless they pose a
threat.
Q. What are the chances of populations of wolves, black bears and mountain lions becoming established in Illinois?
A. Re-colonization by these species is
possible, although Illinois has relatively little suitable habitat in
large enough blocks to support these animals. According to habitat
models, only about 14.7 percent of Illinois’ area is suitable for black
bears, 6.6 percent for mountain lions and 14 percent for gray wolves.
Q. What can Illinois residents do to be prepared for encounters with these species?
A. Property owners can avoid encounters
with wildlife by securing potential food sources, including pet food,
barbecue grills, trash and other sources. Bird feeders can be taken down
temporarily in the event of a local sighting.
To learn more about living with wildlife in Illinois visit web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/.
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