4 Bear Sightings In 4 Different Illinois Counties During 1 Week

Wild Bears don't usually live in Illinois, but this summer, there have been several sightings throughout the state.

Bear Sightings In Illinois

Since I was a kid, bears have been one of my favorite wild animals. It just makes sense because the Chicago Bears are my favorite sports team. I was also a big fan of teddy bears when I was growing up. Plus, I enjoy watching the show "Grizzly Adams."

READ MORE: Illinois' Most Famous Wild Animal Sightings

When you're young, bears look so cute and cuddly. You would've never thought of them as some sort of dangerous creature. That couldn't be farther from the truth. In reality, they can be deadly and very violent. You should avoid contact at all costs.

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The bears look friendly from a distance. Almost like you could go up to them and give the animals a big hug and maybe even rub their bellies. I highly discourage any sort of that kind of behavior. You're better off staying as far away as possible.

Bears living in the state of Illinois are very rare, let alone a sighting. For many years, you would never see one unless it was in a zoo. Over the last couple of years, more and more of the dangerous animals are finding their way to the Land of Lincoln.

Recently, there have been quite a few bear sightings in Illinois, In fact, in the span of just under a week there were four separate signings in our state. A bear has been seen in four different Illinois counties including Saline, Pope, Williamson, and Jackson.

Illinois Department Of Natural Resources

Authorities are still trying to figure out if it's the same bear or different ones. Either way, there is one important thing to remember. That's stay away. Trust me, wild bears do not want to take a selfie with you to post on social media.