This Huge Cougar Was Just Spotted Near Hudson, Illinois

It appears there's a rather large predator loose near Hudson, Illinois. Photos show what appears to be a North American Cougar and police are warning to be aware of a potential encounter in that area with this big cat.

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The McLean County Facebook page shared this advisory today. The cougar was apparently spotted in the vicinity of Hudson Elementary School in Hudson, Illinois.

If you're not familiar with Hudson, Illinois, it's a community located just north of Bloomington.

What do you do if you see a cougar? This isn't a common situation for those of us in our part of the Midwest. If you find yourself in a situation where you can't avoid being in the vicinity of a cougar, Western Wildlife advises that you never turn your back on the animal and try to make yourself look as big as possible. While mountain lions/cougars tend to be be reclusive and avoid contact with humans, you don't want to run or do anything that makes you appear like prey to a cougar. That will not end well for you. Best practice is to keep your eyes open and avoid the situation altogether while contacting local authorities.

Just another typical day in middle America. Drive home from school. See mountain lion/cougar. That's our version of normal.