U.S. cougar sightings on the rise

CHICAGO, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Cougar sightings are on the rise across the United States, including in the Chicago area, wildlife experts say.

Wildlife ecologist Clay Nielsen, who works at Southern Illinois University's Carbondale campus, said the sudden rise in the number of cougar sightings in Illinois and the rest of the nation should lead to the creation of a center reporting site, the Chicago Tribune said Monday.

"If I had to answer the phone every time someone called with a sighting, I wouldn't get any work done," Nielsen said. "If there was one central agency collecting them, there would be tens of thousands per year."

Officials at Illinois' Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control say they have been receiving an average of 18 cougar sightings each day in the last few weeks.

But the problem remains that most cougar sightings aren't confirmed as authorities often arrive after the reported animals have fled, the Tribune reported.