Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below. The sightings ranged from the western to the eastern part of the region across six counties. More than a 100 years ago, native cougars, or mountain lions, disappeared from Michigan. Those who live in an area where cougars may be present are encouraged to keep their pets indoors or in a covered outdoor kennel, especially at night, and to install outside lighting, preferably with motion sensors. The animalswere trapped and hunted from the state around the turn of the 20th century, said Pepin, andare now listed as an endangeredspecies andprotected under state law. The number is down 40 percent from 15 sightings in 2020, according to the DNR's data. The photo was taken in Dickinson County in Michigans Upper Peninsula in September. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. This is about 1 mile from where another photo was captured on August 30 in Luce County. If youre shopping for top products on the market, here are the best 14 products the BestReviews Testing Lab loved in March. 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. Saliby: It seems very rare that our listeners would ever spot a cougar here in the Capital Region. This is about 10 miles from where August 30 photos were captured in Luce County. On July 19, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in the Black River area of Republic, Marquette County. The DNR has a ton of information on cougars in the state. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. WKAR Public Media | DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. Its important to note the predatory cats range widely, so photos and sightings of the same cougar can be made in a number of locations. So, we'll go out and actually do a site investigation, we'll go to that location where, you know, if there's a trail camera where that trail camera was. Example video title will go here for this video. So, that helps if the animal is in a field or you know, without something as a size or scale reference. "In 2020, we confirmed actually 14 cougar reports," said Cody Norton from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. This is about 10 miles from where August 30 photos were captured in Luce County. He's been with WDIV since 2013. This is about 45 miles from where DNR staff found tracks on February 20th in Schoolcraft County. At least 6 cougars have been spotted in Michigan so far this year. Michigan Life 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. 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. Minnesota Minnesota does not have an established breeding population of mountain lions. What were seeing is sort of a migratory population where a family of cougars is established in one area. For a full listing of help desk numbers, field offices, and other ways we can help, please visit our contact page. Based on documented evidence, cougars observed in Michigan could be escaped or released pets. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. On November 27, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar near Gulliver Lake, in Schoolcraft County. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. Have a news tip? In its midseason update, the Department of Natural Resources said all of the sightings of the mysterious cats have been in. More than a 100 years ago, native cougars, or mountain lions, disappeared from Michigan. 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). And also, everybody has a cell phone in their pocket, so if they come across tracks or scat, they can record it immediately. 7 2023 Apr. This is about 120 miles from where a November 27, 2020 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. After an increase of sightings around 2008, the state Department of Natural Resources created a team to keep track of animals. Morning 4: A look at recent confirmed cougar sightings in Michigan -- and more news Here are the top stories for the morning of Aug. 18, 2022 On Nov. 15, 2019, a trail camera captured a photo. And yeah, if anything like that happened, you'd want to report it to the local authorities or the DNR as soon as possible. So, when he heard that a cougar may have been seen . Former Michigan GOP Lawmaker Who Lobbied Against Lobbyists is Now a Lobbyist, Law and Policy 2023 www.detroitnews.com. 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. On August 30, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. July 13, Ontonagon County: A trail camera photo was captured of a cougar. 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On Sept. 16, 2021, a trail camera photo was taken of a cougar in southern Dickinson County, reported Cody Norton, large carnivore specialist for the DNR. Volunteer Opportunities; For a full listing of help desk numbers, field offices, and other ways we can help, please visit our contact page. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. About a month later, a trail camera captured a cougar in Delta County, more than 150 miles from the photo taken in Chippewa County on June 6. Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologists confirmed that a trail camera photo of a mountain lion strolling through an open area of woods is legit. The six confirmed reports of cougar sightings in Michigan have all been recorded in the Upper Peninsula for 2020: one each in Chippewa, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft Counties and three in Delta County. Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. But a rise in sightings does not necessarily mean more of the animals are reclaiming Michigan as their home. This situation is not unique to Michigan, and has been occurring in many other mid-western and eastern states as well. On June 1, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in eastern Mackinac County. On August 30, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. 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. Cougars, have been eliminated from about two-thirds of their historic range. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reports 14 confirmed cougar sightings in 2020, all located in the Upper Peninsula. What do they look like? Though originally native to Michigan, cougars were driven from the states landscape due to several factors, including habitat loss, around the early 1900s. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Michigans DNR says cougars in the state have migrated from the West. It is possible that escaped or released pet cougars account for at least a portion of the sightings in Michigan. It doesn't suggest that, you know, we necessarily obviously didn't have 14 different cougars showing up last year. The Iowa DNR confirmed about 16 cougar sightings from 1995 to 2014. We'll take, you know, GPS coordinates for that location. (WXYZ) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed cougar sightings across the state in 2020. Ever Wanted to Own an Island? The Michigan DNR has confirmed 51 cougar sightings since 2008. There is no photo available. On February 20, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in southeastern Schoolcraft County while conducting wolf track surveys. Just $1 per month , There's been an increase in cougar sightings in the Upper Peninsula over the last three years, By 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. Check out her best picks before buying anything. A Fireball in Michigan Skies in 1965: What Really Happened? When the young are born, they sort of spread out from beyond that area. Published Oct 21, 2021 10:35 AM EDT. 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. And we do have a cardboard cutout too that's kind of a life size cougar. Visitor Centers across the state provide education programs, field trips, archery, fishing, trails and much more. So, you look at the reports, now, towards you know, the last couple of years, the vast majority of those come from trail camera photos or cell phone pics of tracks or scat. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 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