Around 9:00 am Thursday morning, the Whiteside County Sheriff reported there was a sighting of what was believed to be a mountain lion. The animal was reportedly spotted south of Morrison. The Sheriff’s Department said out of an abundance of caution, the department asked for all students in Morrison Schools to be kept inside the buildings.
Whiteside County Sheriff John F. Booker has issued a statement regarding recent sightings of an apparent mountain lion in rural Whiteside County near Morrison, Illinois. “We are now aware of multiple sightings of an apparent mountain lion in the rural areas surrounding Morrison,” Booker said.
Booker said. “The Illinois Department of Natural Resources advises the following:
If you see a cougar, do not run. Do not surprise the cougar. Make noise to ensure that the cougar is aware of your presence. A cougar is not likely to attack a person unless it feels trapped or provoked or you appear to be prey (which is why you should not run). If you are in a group, gather everyone together if possible and move as a group.
Respect the cougar’s space, and do not approach the animal. If the cougar sees you, stand your ground; look as large as possible by standing up straight and putting your arms up in the air and slowly back away. If possible, go inside a building or get into a vehicle. If a cougar makes contact with you, always try to fight it off. Throw rocks, use sticks. Do not play dead.”
“We are not aware of any reason why people should stay indoors or act differently,” Booker added. “Our farmers in rural Morrison may wish to keep a bit of a closer eye on their livestock until he moves on,” Booker said.
