MARION, Ill. — A week after a black bear was seen in Carrier Mills, in southeast Illinois, two other sightings were reported Thursday in nearby Williamson County.
One sighting occurred in the area of Galatia Post and Angelville roads about 12 miles east of Marion early Thursday. The location of this sighting is about 10 miles from Carrier Mills and about 100 miles southeast of St. Louis.
“This is a confirmed sighting with multiple witnesses,” Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich wrote in a Facebook posting that featured photos of the bear.
The next sighting was about 11:30 a.m. Thursday in a farm field in the area of Khoury League and Richard roads near Marion, Diederich said in an interview.
The sheriff asked residents and hikers in the area to stay away from the bear and to call the department at 618-997-6541 if they see it.
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Diederich said that he doesn’t know if the bear seen in Williamson County is the same one spotted in Carrier Mills.
“Illinois bears are protected so it’s illegal to hunt, possess or harass wildlife including bears,” he said. “Let it be. They do traverse large areas.
“Generally speaking, they’re more scared of people than people are of them.”
Diederich said law enforcement would only become involved if a bear posed an imminent threat to a person.
On July 11, the police chief in Carrier Mills reported that an apparent black bear was spotted in the Saline County town.
In 2021, black bear sightings were reported in Monroe, Clinton, Washington and Franklin counties and the Illinois Department of Conservation Police said this apparently was the same bear that roamed in the four counties, according to Wildlife Illinois, a website authorized by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The IDNR reports that there are no documented resident black bears in the state, but the potential exists for them to travel to Illinois from Missouri and Wisconsin.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has reported there are about 900 bears in the state and a bear hunting season was established in 2021. This year’s season is scheduled for Oct. 21-30.
2024 Eclipse: See photos from around Illinois
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Third grader Jayla Brown watches the solar eclipse through special glasses in Bloomington on Monday.
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A phase of the solar eclipse is seen on Monday at Oakland Elementary School in Bloomington.
Solar Eclipse Bloomington Illinois
Different phases of the solar eclipse on Monday at Oakland Elementary School in Bloomington.
Solar Eclipse Bloomington Illinois
Third grader Abner Michalski, center, and other students look at the solar eclipse on Monday at Oakland Elementary School in Bloomington.
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Spectators grab solar glasses and other mementos as they enter Saluki Stadium to watch the total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, in Carbondale.
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
Spectators grab solar glasses as they enter Saluki Stadium to watch the total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, in Carbondale.
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
Liz Barker stands in line with other spectators to enter Saluki Stadium and watch the total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, in Carbondale.
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
Mike Porter uses a telescope to get a look at the sun as he prepares to watch a total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, in Carbondale.
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
Beatrice Church prepares to watch a total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, in Carbondale.
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Spectators enter Saluki Stadium to watch the total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, in Carbondale.
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
Jordan Elliott smiles as she watches with solar glasses as the moon starts to cross in front of the sun during a total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, in Carbondale, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
People watch with solar glasses as the moon starts to cross in front of the sun during a total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, in Carbondale, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
Spectators watch from inside Saluki Stadium on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus as the moon covers the sun during a total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, as seen from Carbondale.
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
The moon covers the sun during a total solar eclipse Monday as seen from Carbondale.
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
People use solar glasses to watch the start of a total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, as seen from Carbondale.
Total Solar Eclipse Illinois
A person uses solar glasses to watch the start of a total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, as seen from Carbondale.
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People use eclipse glasses to watch as the moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from the Van Buren Street Bridge in Chicago, Monday, April 8, 2024.
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Vickie Clark, Gloria Marshall, Brenda Roland and Gayle Henneken watch the eclipse at Rock Springs Nature Center on Monday. The women became friends through a cardio drumming class they take at 121 Fitness, and formed an Adventure Club of 14 women in the class, who all went to event together to enjoy their first monthly adventure.
Solar Eclipse Decatur Illinois
Zach, Kristin, Malia and Mason Harman enjoy the eclipse at Rock Springs Conservation Area in Decatur on Monday.
Solar Eclipse Decatur Illinois
At Rock Springs Nature Center in Decatur, Elena Blesse, 4, wears her eclipse glasses enhanced with a paper plate frame to avoid the temptation of looking over or under the glasses while viewing the eclipse with her mom, Shannon, right and grandmother Ginny Fitzjarrald, left.
Solar Eclipse Decatur Illinois
Chloe Klemstein takes a photo of the eclipse through the telescope at Rock Springs Nature Center.
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Max Rohr and Janet Dusenbery watch the solar eclipse reach its peak at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site in Coles County, where the coverage was 99.99%, on Monday.
Solar Eclipse Mattoon Illinois
Siblings Navi and Reddy Duggirala, front, watch the solar eclipse reach its peak at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, where the coverage was 99.99%, on Monday.
Solar Eclipse Mattoon Illinois
Attendees use glasses to observe the solar eclipse reach its peak at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, where the coverage was 99.99%, on Monday.
Solar Eclipse Mattoon Illinois
Steve Beresford, of Georgetown, and Janet Buchanan, of Charleston, listen to “The Dark Side of the Moon” while watching the solar eclipse reach its peak at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, where the coverage was 99.99%, on Monday.
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Eclipse viewers in Makanda look at the moon completely blocking the sun during the total solar eclipse Monday.
Total Solar Eclipse Makanda
Brenda King, 66, a resident of Makanda, Illinois, watches the solar eclipse approach totality on April 8, 2024. Makanda, where King lives, is in the small intersection of the 2017 and 2024 eclipse paths, and she saw the event in 2017.
Solar Eclipse Eureka
Students at Eureka College watch the solar eclipse on the lawn outside Whetzel House on Monday.
Solar Eclipse Eureka
Students check out the solar eclipse from the lawn next to Whetzel House at Eureka College on Monday.
