Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. State wildlife experts say theres no evidence of a breeding population of cougars in Michigan, and that some of the cougars being spotted may have come from faraway states. All Six Cougar Sightings Recorded in Upper Peninsula for 2020. Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below. We did have some data a couple of years ago where the DNR has all kinds of animal studies going on out in the woods with game cameras. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. Its part of the DNRs effort to monitor cougar populations in the Upper Peninsula and elsewhere in the state when sightings occur. Icy conditions lead to more than a dozen crashes overnight in Kent County, Ousted Ottawa County administrator becomes Wyoming city manager, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Warming Trend through Mid-Week, Almost 200 Chihuahuas up for adoption at Noah's Ark animal sanctuary, Kalamazoo police use boat to rescue dog stuck in marsh, Financially struggling zoos could be latest pandemic victims. At one point, the animal roamedall 48 contiguous states in the United States, according to the Cougar Fund, a Wyoming-based nonprofit that educates people on and advocates for the protection of these animals. So, that helps if the animal is in a field or you know, without something as a size or scale reference. Weve received numerous cougar or mountain lion reports from folks across Michigan, said John Pepin, Deputy Public Information Officer for the DNR. And so, in those two poached carcasses we've had that we were able to do DNA analysis on and try to figure out what populations they were from, they most closely related to populations in South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. DNR confirms sightings based on video,photographsor through visible tracks, with two cases in the U.P. In a state where animals like deer dominate . For a full listing of help desk numbers, field offices, and other ways we can help, please visit our contact page. SEE ALSO: Blueberries, Blackberries, Peaches, Raspberries: Heres Where to Find U-Pick Farms in Michigan. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. A second trail camera photo caught a cougar on Aug. 30 in southcentral Luce County, about 1 mile from the first photo taken on the same day. There have been periodic reports of cougar sightings since that time from various locations in Michigan. According to Cody Norton, DNA analysis confirms cats have dispersed into the state from Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming (likely traveling through Minnesota and northern Wisconsin). However, the team was able to investigate the report after the owner of the photo saw a newspaper story about it and contacted DNR. This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in Schoolcraft County on February 20, 2020. They are fairly certain some of the reports are the same animal, moving from place to place. On May 13, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in eastern Dickinson County. What to do, Wyoming police investigate body found in Grand River, Student to face charges for threat to school district, $1 million grant supports mental health at Davenport, Reports: Man drinking before crashing into lake, Amish family grateful for support after buggy crash, Cedar Point dropped its gate price this season, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. This is about 120 miles from where a November 27, 2020 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. In its midseason update, the Department of Natural Resources said all of the sightings of the mysterious cats have been in the Upper Peninsula: one each in Chippewa, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft counties and three in Delta County. Saliby: Is it a good thing or something that we should be concerned about, seeing more cougars in Michigan? This situation is not unique to Michigan, and has been occurring in many other mid-western and eastern states as well. "Cougars have lost substantial portions of their historical range, yet increased sightings suggest potential for re-establishment in some regions," researchers from the Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of Natural Resources and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry wrote in a recent article in Use the button above to visit the target shooing and archery home page, or go directly to one of the pages below: Find snowmobile trail permit info, maps, rules and regulations and more. Are there pet cougars or exotic big cats like leopards and African lions in Michigan? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This Beloved Ann Arbor Farm Is Surviving the Pandemic Without PPP, Blueberries, Blackberries, Peaches, Raspberries: Heres Where to Find U-Pick Farm, State Parks Now Open for Midweek Campers, Remote Workers as Michigan DNR Unveils New Booking Tool, A 2021 Michigan Beer Lovers Bucket List: Must-Try Beers, Breweries, and Locales, The Ultimate Michigan Wine Tour: Must-Visit Vineyards, Tasting Rooms and More, Michigan Schools and Tribes Encouraged to Apply for Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Grants. The media . On August 30, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. Saliby: You've mentioned a couple of different ways that your team monitors and tracks cougars, like the trail cameras [and] getting photos from residents. Every so often we have numerous verifications due to a similar situation., (Find a complete rundown of the 12 sightings in 2020 right here), From 2018: Cougar captured on DNR camera in Michigans Upper Peninsula. July 13, Ontonagon County: A trail camera photo was captured of a cougar. One of the things the DNR is trying to find out is whether cougars are going to establish themselves here. On October 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in western Mackinac County. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. only one of those coming in the Lower Peninsula, Report the encounter to local authorities. https://dev.michigan.local/som/json?sc_device=json, Go to Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center, Go to Recreational safety and hunter education, Natural and Historical Education Resources for Home, Cultural & Scientific Collectors Permit (Fisheries), Collaborative Forest Management: The Good Neighbor Authority, Assistance for Private Forest Land Owners, County and Municipal Law Enforcement Information, Fisheries Division Citizens Advisory Committees, Michigan History Center Commissions & Committees, Northern Lake Michigan Islands Collaborative, Pigeon River Country Equestrian Committee, Timber and Forest Products Advisory Council, Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Councils. Find cross-country ski, ice fishing , snowmobiling info and much more. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. (WXYZ) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed cougar sightings across the state in 2020. RELATED: State Parks Now Open for Midweek Campers, Remote Workers as Michigan DNR Unveils New Booking Tool. Its also important to note that the reports could be multiple sightings of the same animal, the DNR said. On January 26, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in central Delta County. What else does your team do once you have that information? If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. This includes three from Dickinson County, two from Marquette County and one each from Baraga, Delta, Houghton, Luce, and Schoolcraft counties. The National Park Service has conducted road and trail surveys and trail camera surveillance in the past, designed to detect cougars in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. What do they look like? Politics Despite the occasional reported sightings, wildlife experts say theres no evidence of a breeding population in the state. law enforcement, legislation, rules and regulations, Accessible recreation opportunities in Michigan, All DNR-related boards, committees, and advisory groups, Find seasonal, part-time and full-time job openings with the DNR, information about volunteer and donation opportunities. While meetings between humans and cougars are rare in the wild, the DNR offers tips for what to do in case of an encounter on its website at Michigan.gov/Cougars, along with additional information on the states only species of big cat. The state agency does not know how many of the sightings in recent years were unique, according to Pepin, but assume that several reports may involve the same animal or animals based on some studies as well as the close geographical locations of some sightings. A few people who owned cougars or large cats prior to 2000 are still permitted to own these animals. UPPER PENINSULA, Mich. (WJMN) - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released trail camera photos and other pictures as evidence of cougar sightings in the Upper Peninsula from 2020. After an increase in sightings around 2008, the state Department of Natural Resources created a team to keep track of animals. Michigan Life The odds of encountering a cougar in the wild are very small and attacks are extremely rare. Based on documented evidence, cougars observed in Michigan could be escaped or released pets. By. Hunting and Fishing; Should you encounter a cougar: Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. About a month and a half later, a trail camera caught a cougar in northern Mackinac County. Your source for Local information & breaking news across southeast Michigan plus 4Warn Weather providing you with accurate forecasts so you can plan your day. Classes & Workshops; No evidence of cougars has been found. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE CAMPING HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Get all your fishing information here, including rules and regulations, license info, the weekly fishing report and much more. This is about 50 miles from where a July 20 video was captured in Baraga County.. Cougars are not protected in the state of Ohio, because they are not indigenous here. Thanks for being here. This is about 36 miles from where the January 12 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. And in 2020, Michiganders reported seeing cougars 14 times, the most since the team formed. What were seeing is sort of a migratory population where a family of cougars is established in one area. Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in Schoolcraft County on February 20, 2020. In the 13 years that the state's cougar team has been searching, they have verified at least 65 reports of a cougar traversing the Michigan wilderness. winter wolf track survey. Because cougars are not an established game species in Michigan and they dont have an established population, Pepin says it would not be legal to just shoot one. In 2020, the DNR says it has six confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan, all in the Upper Peninsula: one each in Chippewa, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft counties and three in Delta County. On June 25, 2021, trail camera photos were captured of a cougar in northern Houghton County. We should never run from a cougar or other large carnivores. Click the box above to learn more about Michigan's state forests. Also known as pumas, panthers, mountain lions, cougar sightings remain extremely rare in Michigan. 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