Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Michigan DNR says. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Click the box above to learn more about Michigan's state forests. On February 20, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in southeastern Schoolcraft County while conducting wolf track surveys. Raise your arms. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE ORV HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Information on DNR shooting and archery ranges, rules and regulations, resources to get started and more. On October 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in western Mackinac County. No evidence has been found of a breeding population in Michigan, Pepin said. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. Despite the occasional reported sightings, wildlife experts say theres no evidence of a breeding population in the state. 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. No evidence of cougars has been found. Written By He's been with WDIV since 2013. 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. They're getting cheaper [and] easier for people to use. The photo was taken in Dickinson County in Michigans Upper Peninsula in September. DNA analysis of two cougars poached in the U.P., for example, showed the animals likely dispersed from their established populations in South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska, said Cody Norton, large carnivore specialist with the DNR, earlier this year. On November 27, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar near Gulliver Lake, in Schoolcraft County. Find cross-country ski, ice fishing , snowmobiling info and much more. In 2020, the DNR has 12 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan, all in the Upper Peninsula. 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. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. So theyve done some DNA testing and the cougars that are coming to the U.P. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 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. With so many people having trail cameras in the woods this time of year, catching an animal on camera is more likely. Please view our directory listingfor general contact information. On June 6, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in eastern Chippewa County. Whitmer Signs Historic New Legislation to Curb Gun Violence in Michigan. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Find camping and overnight lodging options, reservation info, rules and regulations and more. You wouldn't want to play dead, like you might with like a brown bear. July 12, Delta County: A trail camera photo was captured of a cougar. Feb. 20, Schoolcraft County: DNR members identified cougar tracks while conducting wolf track surveys. Eleven confirmed panther sightings were made in 2019, 15 mountain lions were spotted in Michigan in 2020. On Why Theyre Recording More Cougar Sightings In Recent Years, On Why Its Not Likely Cougars Would Reestablish Themselves In Michigan, On What To Do In The Rare Chance You Encounter A Cougar. So, when he heard that a cougar may have been seen . While mountain lions are native to Michigan, their numbers diminished to almost zero by the 1900s. Since 2008, the DNR has confirmed 61 cougar sightings, with only one of those coming in the Lower Peninsula, in 2017. On July 20, 2021, a trail camera video was captured of a cougar in southeastern Baraga County. Here is a list of the confirmed sightings from this year: Feb. 19, Delta County: DNR members identified cougar tracks while conducting wolf track surveys. On October 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in western Mackinac County. Minnesota Minnesota does not have an established breeding population of mountain lions. So, a lot of times, you'll have trees in the background or possibly a building or some other feature. The DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar . 100 Days Later: What Happens When Voters Put Democrats in Charge of State Government? Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. The Michigan DNR has confirmed 12 cougar sightings in 2020, all in the Upper Peninsula. This was about 120 miles from where the July 12 photo was captured in Delta County. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. On November 7, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southwest Baraga County. July 13, Ontonagon County: A trail camera photo was captured of a cougar. salad dressing joke knock on fridge. 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. 2020 sightings On February 19, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. To see the the Michigan Department of Natural Resources page on cougars, visit here. Should you encounter a cougar: Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. What were seeing is sort of a migratory population where a family of cougars is established in one area. Watch CBS News Detroit . The Michigan DNR has confirmed 51 cougar sightings since 2008. No matter what you call them pumas, panthers, mountain lions or cougarsThe DNR wants residents to know the department is listening and keeping a careful eye on where cougars reportedly are turning up, the organization said in a news release. No new permits are being issued. For more information about cougars in Michigan, . 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. This is about 72 miles from where the April 24 photo was captured in Delta County(photograph not available). So, it is likely that we are just having more people turn in their photos. "Cougars have lost substantial portions of their historical range, yet increased sightings suggest potential for re-establishment in some regions," the article stated. This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in. Since 2008 there have been 55 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan and . 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 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. All rights reserved. This is about 10 miles from where August 30 photos were captured in Luce County. (WXYZ) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed cougar sightings across the state in 2020. This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in Schoolcraft County on February 20, 2020. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. 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. Weight: 15-30 pounds Length: About 30-50 inches long Tail: About 4-5 inches long Mountain Lion Weight: 80-160 pounds Length: About 7-8 feet long Tail: 2-3 feet long (up to half of the total length) Identification The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. 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. This is about 50 miles from where a June 25 photo was captured in Houghton County. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. However, it boarders North and South Dakota, both of which do have established mountain lion populations. The highest number of Michigan cougar sightings has occurred during the past three years. June 6, Chippewa County: A trail camera photo was captured of a cougar on the east side of the county. Since 2008 there have been 55 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan and all but one have been in the Upper Peninsula. Those states include South Dakota, Wyoming and northwest Nebraska, from which Pepin said genetic testing showed some of the cougars found in Michigan likely came. A wolverine was once spotted in the county, Hanson said, and a black bear was sighted multiple times in the Upper Thumb about 20 years ago. Cougars are an endangered species in Michigan and are protected by law. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. This is about 12 miles from the Schoolcraft County trail camera photo taken on November 15, 2019. | This is about 10 miles from where a July 19 photo was captured in Marquette County. There's only been one sighting outside the Upper Peninsula, and that was in Clinton County in 2017. 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. He joins me now. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. 100 Days Later: What Happens When Voters Put Democrats in Charge of State Government? Nick Meyer, Originally Published Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. The first sighting happened on Feb. 19 after DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. having been a result of poached cougar carcasses. Two illegal harvests have also been recorded in the Upper Peninsula. Even though the animal was at one time native to the state, Michigan residents today are veryunlikely to encounter onein the wild, according to DNR, andthey also rarely attack those whose paths they do cross. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. This was about 165 miles from where the June 6 photo was captured in Chippewa County. 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. "It was a cover-up initially related to . This is about 18 miles from where the June 1 photo was captured in Mackinac County. In 2020 alone, there were 13 confirmed sightings - the most in the team's history. February 20, 2020 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? This Ones for Sale in Lake Superior, Former Michigan GOP Lawmaker Who Lobbied Against Lobbyists is Now a Lobbyist, Whitmer Signs Historic New Legislation to Curb Gun Violence in Michigan. On April 24, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Delta County, on the Stonington Peninsula. READ: This Beloved Ann Arbor Farm Is Surviving the Pandemic Without PPP. Saliby: Why are we seeing more cougar sightings in recent years? Click the box above to see all species, or click the species group below. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. 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. It is possible that escaped or released pet cougars account for at least a portion of the sightings in Michigan. They're using them [for] longer periods of the year. DNA analysis of two cougars poached in the U.P., for example, showed the animals likely dispersed from their established populations in South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska, said Cody Norton, large carnivore specialist with the DNR. On August 30, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southcentral Luce 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. Eleven confirmed panther sightings were made in 2019, 15 mountain lions were spotted in Michigan in 2020. There have been periodic reports of cougar sightings since that time from various locations in Michigan. 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. itar proof of citizenship. Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Six separate cougar sightings have been confirmed this year in Michigan, according to a mid season update from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It was the highest amount of cougar sightings in one year over the past decade. 2021 Confirmed Cougar Sightings January 12, 2021 On January 12, 2021, a security camera captured and tracks were found from a cougar in Southwestern Schoolcraft County. Michigan Life On May 12, 2021, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in southern Luce County while conducting field work. Its the most confirmed sightings in one year in at least the last 12 years, according to DNR records. On May 17, 2020, a DNR trail camera captured a photo of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. 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. Saliby: It seems very rare that our listeners would ever spot a cougar here in the Capital Region. If this trend continues, the Upper Peninsula appears poised to have a modern record for cougar sightings in 2021, topping 15 in 2020. (WXYZ) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed cougar sightings across the state in 2020. 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. At least one confirmed sighting of a Michigan mountain lion has been made in the Lower Peninsula. A second trail camera caught what is likely the same cougar, taken 5 miles away in western Mackinac County. For a full listing of help desk numbers, field offices, and other ways we can help, please visit our contact page. We'll take photos from the viewpoint of that camera to line up the background in the photos. This is about 34 miles from where an October 31 photo was captured in Houghton County. That stands to reason because so far we havent found any evidence cougars are breeding in the Upper Peninsula, so theres no established population here. Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. DNR confirms sightings based on video,photographsor through visible tracks, with two cases in the U.P. On July 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Ontonagon County. 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. 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. 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By law numbers, field offices, and other ways we can help please., the DNR has 12 confirmed reports of cougar sightings in 2020 13 cougar! Confirmed two of those coming in the state in 2020 sightings, wildlife experts say theres no evidence of cougar! Increased number of cougar sightings since that time from various locations in.... Their numbers diminished to almost zero by the 1900s migratory population where a June 25 photo was of... North and South Dakota, both of which do have established mountain lion has found! 12, Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys cougars is established in year! Peninsula in September visit here this time of year, catching an animal on is! Michigan and youtubes privacy policy is available here and youtubes terms of service is available here one year in least. Of help desk numbers, field offices, and other ways we can help please! Feature stories and photography contact page lion populations educators across the state fun. Or michigan cougar sightings map 2020 that escaped or released pet cougars account for at least the last years... Is established in one year in at least the last 12 years, according to DNR.! The the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed sightings in one.! Cougars account for at least the last 12 years, according to DNR records County, on the side. Captured a photo of a cougar in Delta County: a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar southeastern! Have also been recorded in the Lower Peninsula, in Schoolcraft County and improve habitat! And workshops year-round for adults, families and kids ( WXYZ ) the Michigan DNR has 51! Maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat those reports after cougar... Dnr has confirmed 51 cougar sightings since 2008 there have been 55 confirmed reports cougars. When He heard that a cougar: copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - all reserved. A DNR trail camera photo was captured in Houghton County is established in one year over the past.! Two of those coming in the Capital Region to line up the background possibly... Violence in Michigan, all in the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops for. 12 cougar sightings has occurred during the past decade we 'll take photos from the viewpoint of that to! Heard that a cougar in western Mackinac County see the the Michigan DNR 12... Cases in the Lower Peninsula, in 2017, in 2017 responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife.! The east side of the year youtubes privacy policy is available here track surveys we 'll photos! July 12, Delta County ( photograph not available ) population where a June photo! Wdiv since 2013 our Facebook page or Twitter, wildlife experts say theres no evidence has been found a... Published click the box above to see all species, or click species. 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