SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is monitoring a black bear sighting in southwestern Illinois, with the animal first observed Monday, May 26, 2025, in St. Clair County and confirmed by an IDNR wildlife biologist Tuesday, May 27, 2025. The bear has been seen multiple times in the same area and has caused damage to some private property bee hives, though it has had no direct interaction with humans. While black bear sightings in Illinois are rare, the IDNR notes they are not unprecedented during summer months. Bears from neighboring states with established populations, including Missouri and Wisconsin, occasionally move into Illinois. Previous confirmed sightings have occurred in counties such as Jo Daviess, Lake, Saline, Pope, Williamson, and Jackson. The IDNR advises residents to avoid direct encounters with bears and to remove potential food sources that could attract them. Bears have a strong sense of smell and can detect food odors
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