Where are cougars sighted in Michigan?

The cougar, also known as a puma or mountain lion, is so uncommon in Michigan that the sightings are often found to be something else – like a large housecat. Further, the 65 verified sightings likely include some duplicates of the same animal, researchers said. All but one of the have been in the Upper Peninsula.

How many cougars are in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan?

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reports 14 confirmed cougar sightings in 2020, all located in the Upper Peninsula. That’s the highest number reported since 2008, when the DNR first began tracking cougars.

What big cats are in Michigan?

Cougars, also called mountain lions or pumas, are native to Michigan and would have been found here prior to European colonization of the region. Early European settlers, however, saw the cat as a threat to them and their livestock, as well as a competitor for venison and other wild game.

Can I shoot a cougar on my property in Michigan?

Wild cougars may not be killed by the public in defense of pets or livestock without a permit from the DNR. However, under the Large Carnivore Act, large cats (including exotics and cougars) that are escaped pets may be destroyed in defense of property, as well as life.

Are there any cougars in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan?

Since 2008, the DNR has confirmed 61 cougar sightings, with only one of those coming in the Lower Peninsula, in 2017. Though originally native to Michigan, cougars were driven from the state’s landscape due to several factors, including habitat loss, around the early 1900s.

Are there black panthers in Michigan?

There is no one distinct species of wild cat called a black panther. I, like many, have been very skeptical over the years about the existence of these cats living in Michigan. The DNR does not recognize that the cat lives or much less thrives in Michigan at all.

Do black panthers live in Michigan?

Are there cougars in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan?

Are there wolves in Michigan Lower Peninsula?

Wolves occasionally are spotted in the northern Lower Peninsula but no established population is known to exist there. Afterward, a remnant population began migrating from Minnesota to northern Wisconsin and into Michigan’s U.P. Numbers grew steadily.

Is it legal to own a cougar in Michigan?

It has been illegal to own a cougar or large exotic cats such as African lions, leopards, and jaguars, in Michigan since 2000. The DNR occasionally receives reports of illegally owned large pet cats including cougars, and has confiscated these animals.

Are there wolves in Michigan?

Wolves are native to Michigan and were once present in all 83 counties. The federal government listed the gray wolf as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, when the Michigan wolf population was estimated at only six animals in the UP, along with an isolated population on Isle Royale.

Do Coywolves live in Michigan?

It may sound like an urban legend, but coywolves exist throughout the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada, and have been confirmed in northeast Lower Michigan through blood-testing and DNA analysis.

Are there cougar sightings in the state of Michigan?

DNR wildlife officials believe some of the sightings may involve the same animal roaming around the woods. Cougar sightings are very rare in Michigan. Only 55 sightings of cougars — which are also known as pumas, panthers and mountain lions — have been confirmed in Michigan since 2008.

Where are the Cougars in Mackinac County Michigan?

“These are likely young male cougars looking for areas far from home where they can find mates and establish their own territories, and they just keep moving when they don’t find any female cougars,” Sitar said. A cougar is captured by a trail camera at a deer baiting site in Mackinac County.

Where was the Cougar in Delta County Michigan?

This cougar whose photo was released today was photographed in Delta County, which is in the south-central portion of the U.P. The cat was photographed July 7 in daylight hours northwest of Ironwood in the far western portion of the Upper Peninsula.

Who is the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Cougar team?

As reported sightings became more common, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources created a “cougar team” in 2008 to review reports of cougars and to try to verify them. Brian Roell, a DNR wildlife biologist at Marquette, takes the mission of the cougar team very seriously.