No evidence to back up Wheatland sighting, official says
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
Despite a reported sighting of a cougar in the Town of Wheatland Tuesday, there was no evidence to support the claim, according to a Department of Natural Resource official.
Wildlife Biologist Marty Johnson, who oversees both Racine and Kenosha counties, responded to investigate the report at about 2 p.m.
“Along with myself, and three conservation wardens, there is no evidence,” said Johnson. “At this point, there are no signs of a cougar.”
The report came from a citizen residing near highways 50 and KD, who stated the person saw a large animal through a set of bushes in their backyard.
When the head popped out over the bushes, the citizen believed it was a cougar and reported the sighting to authorities.
One of the residents told Kenosha County Sheriff’s officials that several chickens had gone missing from her residence in recent days, but she didn’t know if it was connected to the reported cougar sighting, according to a sheriff’s news release.
Authorities, in turn, alerted residents via automated telephone calls. The calls and text messages told residents:
“Attention Wheatland residents, a cougar was seen in the 355 block of 52nd Street in Kenosha County. Use caution with children, livestock and pets in outside areas and yards.”
Johnson, who stated confirmations are rare, spent more than three hours canvassing the area, but did not turn up any evidence such as paw tracks.
“Cougars are rare in Southeast Wisconsin,” Johnson said. “It is not their natural area of habitat.”
The last confirmed cougar sighting in the area was in 2008 near Janesville, and the animal was eventually located in the Chicago area, where authorities “shot the cougar,” Johnson said.
Johnson added the cougar likely hitched a ride along the railroad corridor en route to Chicago.
“If there is nothing to confirm, there is nothing to report,” Johnson stated regarding Tuesday’s supposed sighting.
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