I once saw a pot belly pig and an emu both in Crawford County Illinois. Obviously these where either released or escaped domestic animals.
We hear about couger sightings quite often, personally I think some folks WANT to see a big cat. Truley wild? I believe it is possible but not probable. Again, escaped domestics perhaps?
I am reminded of a float trip we made in '92 on The Yellowstone river. The guide discussed the various animals we could see, ie: moose, elk and especially bear. About an hour into the trip one of the other passengers, a German tourist traveling with his wife, excitedly yells "BEAR". I'm looking all around, searching into the brush, scouting the horizon... nothing but a beaver...
With our contemporary urban society I believe the average individual's wildlife identification skills are not as keenly honed as previous generations. To that German fellow a beaver certainly looked like a bear.
J-Mac