All . A full list of confirmed cougar sightings in Michigan since 2008 can be found here. There have been periodic reports of cougar sightings since that time from various locations in Michigan. Ever Wanted to Own an Island? When the young are born, they sort of spread out from beyond that area. On May 17, 2020, a DNR trail camera captured a photo of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. is a contributing writer for The Gander and a longtime journalist who has covered everything from pro sports teams to politics, inspirational community stories, and much more. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. DNR confirms sightings based on video,photographsor through visible tracks, with two cases in the U.P. Just five days later, a trail camera caught a cougar in eastern Chippewa County, about 18 miles from the location of the June 1 photo. Male cougars are known to travel great distancesin search of places to establish breeding locations with available females, said John Pepin, deputy public information officer at DNR, and it is almost always males that are recorded inconfirmed sightings. To see the the Michigan Department of Natural Resources page on cougars, visit here. On January 12, 2021, a security camera captured and tracks were found from a cougar in Southwestern Schoolcraft County. If children are present, pick them up so they cannot run. And yeah, if anything like that happened, you'd want to report it to the local authorities or the DNR as soon as possible. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The DNR said it is possible reports could be sightings of the same animal. Eleven confirmed panther sightings were made in 2019, 15 mountain lions were spotted in Michigan in 2020. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. WKARs Sophia Saliby spoke with DNR large carnivore specialist, Cody Norton. Calendars: 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. The DNR has a ton of information on cougars in the state. That gives you an idea of how rare they are.. 14 confirmed cougar sightings in Michigan in 2020 8,264 views Mar 14, 2021 69 Dislike Share Save FOX 17 WXMI 23.7K subscribers Fox 17's Jamie Smet spoke to the DNR about the abnormally large. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Visit the grants home page by clicking on the button above, or view a specific area of interest below: Learn about Michigan's diverse range of fish, plants, trees, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. On Wednesday, the DNR shared an update of the latest crop of cougar sightings in Michigan, and their findings show just how isolated and wide-ranging the animals have truly become. July 12, Delta County: A trail camera photo was captured of a cougar. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. So, with females dispersing shorter distances less often, that's kind of the big barrier to, I think, having a population get established in Minnesota or Wisconsin or Michigan, but you never know. A TRAIL CAMERA photo Sept. 16 shows a cougar in southern . April 24, Delta County: A trail camera photo was captured of a cougar on the Stonington Peninsula. Confirmed sightings of the animal, also known as a puma or mountain lion, hit double digits for the first time in 2019, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resourcesrecorded more sightings in the last three years than it did in the 10 years prior. On February 19, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE WINTER FUN HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Find facility info, overnight info, an event calendar and much more. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. Click the box above to see all species, or click the species group below. State park, historic sites and visitor center events. "Cougars have lost substantial portions of their historical range, yet increased sightings suggest potential for re-establishment in some regions," the article stated. Use the button above to visit the fishing home page, or go directly to your area of interest below: Get all your hunting information here, including hunting season dates, rules and regulations, and much more. The media . Fish and Wildlife Service. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. This is about 36 miles from where the January 12 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. 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. DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. Nick Meyer Though originally native to Michigan, cougars were driven from the states landscape due to several factors, including habitat loss, around the early 1900s. That's the highest number reported since 2008, when the DNR first began tracking cougars. In 2011, one cougar traveled a record-breaking 2,100 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut. Use the button above to visit the hunting home page, or go directly to your area of interest below: Find ORV license and permit info, maps, rules and regulations and more. DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. Michigan now has confirmation of no less than 74 mountain lion sightings in the state over the last 14 years. It has been illegal to own a cougar or large exotic cats such as African lions, leopards, and jaguars, in Michigan since 2000. On May 24, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in western Marquette County. This is about 45 miles from where DNR staff found tracks on February 20th in . They are also encouraged to protect, fence and shelter livestock, especially at night, and to avoid feeding wildlife nearby as it may attract potential prey sources. 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. Cougars were native to Michigan, but . Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. A second trail camera caught what is likely the same cougar, taken 5 miles away in western Mackinac County. This is about 5 miles from where another photo was captured on October 13 in Mackinac County. On March 31, 2021, a trail camera video was captured of a cougar in northeast Dickinson County. We'll take photos from the viewpoint of that camera to line up the background in the photos. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. The highest number of Michigan cougar sightings has occurred during the past three years. In 2020, the DNR has 12 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan, all in the Upper Peninsula. Saliby: Could a cougar population ever reestablish itself in Michigan? So, if you look at just kind of basic cougar biology, typically, the males will disperse or leave their natal home ranges more often and go farther distances than females. The Michigan DNR says. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. 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). If attacked, fight back with whatever is available. The first sighting happened on Feb. 19 after DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed six sightings of cougars in 2020. Saliby: It seems very rare that our listeners would ever spot a cougar here in the Capital Region. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); MICHIGAN Cougar sightings are hotly debated in Michigan, despite the fact that theyve been spotted dozens of times since 2008, and were originally native to Michigan before being scattered across the state, mostly due to habitat loss. 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. 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. We administer grants that enable our local partners to promote the lifestyles we all enjoy by providing recreational opportunities, enhancing wildlife habitat and ensuring public safety. DNR alsocannot estimate how many cougars may be in Michigan at any time, but presume that it is a very small number based on the relatively low number of verified reports. This is about 50 miles from where a July 20 video was captured in Baraga County. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This was about 165 miles from where the June 6 photo was captured in Chippewa County. About a month and a half later, a trail camera caught a cougar in northern Mackinac County. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE SNOWMOBILE HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Want to find tasty morel mushrooms in the forest? Published Oct 21, 2021 10:35 AM EDT. The steep increase in confirmed reports may be due to the recent popularity of "trail" or "game" cameras, according to Pepin, who added that hunters and other enthusiasts often have multiple camerasin different locations. Zudiema has now documented 1,100 cougar sightings in upper Michigan since the 1950s and believes authorities are trying to hide a growing cougar population. Then, a day later, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in southeastern Schoolcraft County, about 40 miles from the tracks found the day before, and 12 miles from a trail camera photo taken in November 2019. Michigan Life 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. There is no photo available. Calendars: And also, everybody has a cell phone in their pocket, so if they come across tracks or scat, they can record it immediately. This is about 120 miles from where a November 27, 2020 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. Cody Norton is a large carnivore specialist with the DNR. Never run from a cougar or other large carnivore. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. The DNR occasionally receives reports of illegally owned large pet cats including cougars, and has confiscated these animals. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. On December 22, 2021, a security camera captured video of a cougar in southwestern Delta County. 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. Experiential programs to teachers around the state from where the January 12 photo was captured on October 13 Mackinac. 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