Black bear sighted in southern Illinois town, police say

An apparent black bear has been spotted roaming in Carrier Mills, the police chief said.

Chief Scott Isaacs warned residents of the Saline County town not to approach the bear in his post on the department’s Facebook page Thursday.

Carrier Mills village employees have seen the bear, the chief said.

Residents who see the bear are urged to call the police, Isaacs said.

Carrier Mills has about 1,600 residents and is located east of Carbondale near the Shawnee National Forest.

Isaacs said the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the agency’s Conservation Police unit have been notified of the bear sightings in Carrier Mills.

A representative from the agency could not be reached for comment Friday.

The Carrier Mills Police Department Facebook page shared two photos of the apparent bear. The creature is shown on a road in one photo and in a grassy area in another.

“A black bear is not likely to attack a person unless it feels trapped or provoked,” according to a report by Wildlife Illinois, a website authorized by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “Respect the bear’s space, and do not approach the animal.”

In 2021, black bear sightings were reported in Monroe, Clinton, Washington and Franklin counties and a Conservation Police officer said this apparently was the same bear that roamed in the four counties.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has reported there are about 900 bears in the state, with the number of bears increasing at about 9% annually, according to The Kansas City Star. A bear hunting season was established in 2021 and this year’s season is scheduled for Oct. 21-30.