Possible cougar sighting in Barrington Hills

Barrington Hills police have issued an alert for an unconfirmed sighting of a cougar by a citizen at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7, near Oak Knoll and Old Hart roads.

Officers who responded to the call searched the area but were unable to spot any such animal. The police department said cougars are not normally known to inhabit the area but reminded residents that Chicago police were forced to kill a cougar that had been roaming the North Side in April 2008.

Barrington Hills police have informed the Illinois Department of Natural Resources of the possible sighting and are continuing to monitor the area.