Bear-sighting No. 4 reported in southern Illinois. Is it the same bear or a new one?

A week after a black bear was seen in Carrier Mills, two other sightings were reported Thursday in nearby Williamson County and a fourth one on Friday.

The latest occurred off Interstate 57 just outside Marion. A video shows the animal in an open field near the city water tower. At about 11 a.m., nearby Kokopelli Golf Club issued a warning to golfers to beware.

A previous 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.

“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 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.

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.

Illinois does not have an established population of black bears but officials believe the bears seen in southern Illinois have traveled from Missouri, according to Wildlife Illinois, a website authorized by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

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.