Possible Cougar Sightings Reported in North Shore

Dogs, bright lights, flashing white lights and music will deter the animals, officials said

A "large cat-type animal resembling a cougar" has been spotted in the North Shore area, officials said.

The Glencoe Public Safety Department has received reports of what appears to be a cougar near the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Officials said it's likely a transient animal searching for a new home. Cougars tend to avoid populated areas and may be looking for food. Deer are their main pray.

Public Safety officers have investigated several sightings of the suspicious animal over the last few weeks but have been unable to locate tracks or other hard evidence of the animal.

The first sighting occurred the morning of April 15 when a resident spotted the animal lying down on the Lake Michigan bluff below the Hazel overlook. The resident told officials the animal rose to its feet and disappeared into the heavy brush.

A Public Safety employee reported a second sighting the evening of July 26 after witnessing a large cat cross the street at Dell Place and Lakeside Terrace in Glencoe. The employee said the cat resembled a cougar.
 
The most recent sighting was over the last two weeks near the Skokie Lagoon area.
 
While there are no sustained populations of cougars in Illinois, younger cougars are known to pass through the Midwest by way of the Black Hills of South Dakota, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

Dogs, bright lights, flashing white lights and music will deter the animals, officials said.

The Kenilworth Police Department is encouraging North Shore residents near Glencoe and the Skokie Lagoon to use caution and report sightings of the suspicious animal and deer carcasses immediately.
 

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