Illinois Style: Is there a cougar near Okawville?

“That's consistent with the ecology of the animal”

Somewhere in the timber along the Kaskaskia River bottoms north of Okawville, a cougar roams. Russel Shubert is certain of it.

'There's no doubt in my mind,' Shubert said. 'I know there's one for sure. It's like this: Where there's one, there's probably more.'

Wayne Borrenpohl, of Venedy, also believes there's a cougar in the backcountry of Washington County. He and his wife, Janis, both saw the big cat at different times in the past three years.

'Absolutely I believe there's one out there,' Wayne Borrenpohl said. 'The conservation guys can say what they want. They don't see as much wildlife as I do around here. I know what I saw.' Read more