Even though they're not seen too often in Illinois, bears, cougars and wolves are now protected species under state law. Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill today putting those animals in the state's wildlife code and starting the process for the Department of Natural Resources to begin developing management plans. Only about 15-percent of the state's land is considered suitable habitat for black bears, 14-percent for gray wolves and six-and-a-half-percent for mountain lions.
