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WILMETTE, Ill. (AP/WBBM) -- Suburban Chicago authorities are investigating after receiving several calls reporting alleged cougar sightings.
Wilmette police say they received calls from four residents on Saturday morning claiming they'd spotted an animal thought to be a cougar on the 300 block of 3rd Street near the Chicago Transit Authority Linden Avenue station on the Purple Line.
Police searched the area, but did not locate the animal.
Officials with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Lake County Forest Preserve are also investigating.
Confirmed cougar sightings are rare in Illinois.
One confirmed cougar was found dead in 2004 near New Boston in northwest Illinois. Another was found in 2000 near Chester, about 60 miles southeast of St. Louis.
Last week, officials in Lake County asked for the public's help in locating a large cat or debunking recent reports by people who believed they say they saw a cougar-like feline.
For more information about cougars and animals that look a lot like cougars click here
According to the health department there have been sightings in North Chicago and Round Lake Park. Authorities say so far they have no physical evidence of a large cat, and are preparing to take castings of paw prints to determine what has may be wandering around in Lake County.
The Department is also encouraging residents to take digital photos or video of the animal and its tracks if they are at a safe distance and location from the animal.
Place something such as a tape measure on the ground near the track and include in the photo to assist with determining the size of the track. Also record the time and exact location of the observation. Digital photos can be emailed to: madam@co.lake.il.us.
In the meantime, health officials are asking people who see a large cat to keep their distance, but if possible take digital photos or video of the animal and its tracks, then report it to local police.
Following is information to help residents distinguish between cougars, bobcats and coyotes:
Cougars are long, slender cats with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. Their body length is 3 - 4 feet and they have a tail of 2.5 - 3 feet in length. Their color is light, tawny brown, which can be perceived as gray or darker depending on light conditions. Males can weigh 115 to 160 pounds, females slightly less. They are primarily active at dawn and dusk, but can be active at any time of the day or night.
Bobcats range in length from 30 to 50 inches, stand about 2 feet high and weigh between 15 and 30 pounds. Their fur is reddish-brown above and whitish below, and black spots or streaks are throughout the coat. They have a stubby tail that is only four or five inches long. They have tufts of hair in their ears that make their ears look pointed and sometimes a white spot on the back of the ear.
The coyote is a member of the dog family. It is the size and shape of a medium-sized collie dog, but its tail is round and bushy and is carried straight out below the level of its back. It weighs between 15 to 45 pounds, with a shoulder height of 15 to 20 inches.
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