Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. | Eleven confirmed panther sightings were made in 2019, 15 mountain lions were spotted in Michigan in 2020. DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. Since 2008 there have been 55 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan and all but one have been in the Upper Peninsula. DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. And yeah, if anything like that happened, you'd want to report it to the local authorities or the DNR as soon as possible. This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in Schoolcraft County on February 20, 2020. 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. It was the highest amount of cougar sightings in one year over. 2020 Confirmed Cougar Sightings February 19, 2020 On February 19, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. Let's take a look at some common questions. 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. If cougars are here, where did they come from? They might cover them up with a bucket or something like that, and we physically had to go out there and try to be out there quick enough before some of that evidence disappeared. In 2020, the DNR has 12 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan, all in the Upper Peninsula. Whitmer Signs Historic New Legislation to Curb Gun Violence in Michigan. On July 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Ontonagon County. The highest number of Michigan cougar sightings has occurred during the past three years. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. The Michigan DNR says. 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. All of the sightings were in the Upper Peninsula. 0:41. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This situation is not unique to Michigan, and has been occurring in many other mid-western and eastern states as well. The media . Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. It is the most in a. On March 31, 2021, a trail camera video was captured of a cougar in northeast Dickinson County. This is about 45 miles from where DNR staff found tracks on February 20th in Schoolcraft County. Cougars, also called mountain lions, were originally native to Michigan, but were extirpated from Michigan around the turn of the century. All rights reserved. Im Sophia Saliby. All of the sightings were in the Upper Peninsula. Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. 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. Also known as pumas, panthers, mountain lions, cougar sightings remain extremely rare in Michigan. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. michigan wolf sightings maphow to turn off second alert on iphone calendar. Though originally native to Michigan, cougars were driven from the states landscape due to several factors, including habitat loss, around the early 1900s. Although sightings are rare in Michigan, they have been on the rise in recent years. Since then, the big cats have occasionally been spotted by residents as they wander in from states like the Dakotas. Check out her best picks before buying anything. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. What do they look like? Despite the occasional reported sightings, wildlife experts say theres no evidence of a breeding population in the state. Feb. 20, Schoolcraft County: DNR members identified cougar tracks while conducting wolf track surveys. Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. Cougars have been known to migrate 20 to 50 miles. 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. This is about 95 miles from where a November 12 photo was captured in Baraga County. We'll take photos from the viewpoint of that camera to line up the background in the photos. A trail camera captured this photo of a cougar on May 24 in western Marquette County. Find camping and overnight lodging options, reservation info, rules and regulations and more. Now, we have trail cameras, and we're seeing a ton of use out of those. The photo was taken in Dickinson County in Michigans Upper Peninsula in September. What should I do if I encounter a cougar? So basically, we do, you know, everything we can to make sure that when we get a photo or evidence from a cougar that it did take place in Michigan, and that everything lines up. RELATED: State Parks Now Open for Midweek Campers, Remote Workers as Michigan DNR Unveils New Booking Tool. This is about 50 miles from where the May 13 photo was captured in Dickinson County. 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. No evidence has been found of a breeding population in Michigan, Pepin said. Calendars: The last known wild cougar legally taken in the state occurred in 1906 near Newberry. 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. In 2020, the DNR has 12 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan, all in the Upper Peninsula. This is about 30 miles from where the January 26 photo was captured in Delta County. This is about 127 miles from where the April 24 photo was captured in Delta County. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. 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. MICHIGAN (WPBN/WGTU) -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released the latest information on confirmed cougar sightings in the state. What were seeing is sort of a migratory population where a family of cougars is established in one area. 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. Please view our directory listingfor general contact information. Saliby: It seems very rare that our listeners would ever spot a cougar here in the Capital Region. Anything you can do to make them second guess whether you're a prey species or not and you should not be tangled with. 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. 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. The DNR is reporting 10 confirmed. July 13, Ontonagon County: A trail camera photo was captured of a cougar. On October 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in western Mackinac County. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. In its midseason update, the Department of Natural Resources said all of the sightings of the mysterious cats have been in. This Ones for Sale in Lake Superior, Accountability A TRAIL CAMERA photo Sept. 16 shows a cougar in southern . Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. Saliby: Could a cougar population ever reestablish itself in Michigan? With so many people having trail cameras in the woods this time of year, catching an animal on camera is more likely. This is about 1 mile from where another photo was captured on August 30 in Luce County. MARQUETTE, Mich. (WJMN) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources released trail camera photos and other pictures as evidence of cougar sightings in the Upper Peninsula from 2020. At least one confirmed sighting of a Michigan mountain lion has been made in the Lower Peninsula. 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. State park, historic sites and visitor center events. There have been 62 cougar sightings in Michigan since 2008. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. Updated: 6:52 PM EDT August 12, 2020. In February, DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting the U.P. Ten mountain lion sightings have now been confirmed in Michigans Upper Peninsula in 2021, according to the DNR. So, we've had two poached carcasses. In February, DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting the U.P. This is about 36 miles from where the January 12 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. More than a 100 years ago, native cougars, or mountain lions, disappeared from Michigan. Cougars are not protected in the state of Ohio, because they are not indigenous here. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The sightings ranged from the western to the eastern part of the region across six counties. Local 4 News every morning. The DNR urges people to report cougar sightings on its website. This is about 120 miles from where a November 27, 2020 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. Classes & Workshops; He clarified that doesnt mean there are 40 animals but it is 40 different reports the DNR has been able to confirm. Most of our sightings of cougars which weve been able to confirm, which is about 40 different sightings, have been with only one exception, in the U.P., Pepin added. 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. This includes three from Dickinson County, two from Marquette County and one each from Baraga, Delta, Houghton, Luce, and Schoolcraft counties. We'll have to wait and see. Fish and Wildlife Service. 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. On October 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in northern Mackinac County. The tail is long and thick with a black tip. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. It is possible that escaped or released pet cougars account for at least a portion of the sightings in Michigan. Thanks for being here. 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. DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. Bob McNally This is about 3 miles from where a December 22 video was captured in Delta 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. State park, historic sites and visitor center events. Today, the Cougar Fund says, viable breeding populations are found in only 16 states after centuries of attempts to exterminate them that began during the European colonization of North America. Pepin says the reports help them understand behavior as well. Should you encounter a cougar: Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. At least 6 cougars have been spotted in Michigan so far this year. On November 7, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southwest Baraga County. 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. On July 12, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Delta County. The DNR has a ton of information on cougars in the state. This is about 125 miles from where tracks were found on May 12 in Luce County. Other states include Washington, California, North Dakota and Texas. This is about 160 miles from where October 13 photos were captured in Mackinac County. Hunting and Fishing; Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. No evidence of cougars has been found. On May 24, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in western Marquette County. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This wasabout 50 miles from where a July 20 video was captured in Baraga County, which itself was about 10 miles away from where a photo was captured the previous day in Marquette County. The Iowa DNR confirmed about 16 cougar sightings from 1995 to 2014. A Fireball in Michigan Skies in 1965: What Really Happened. On June 1, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in eastern Mackinac County. In 2011, one cougar traveled a record-breaking 2,100 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut. Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below. To see the the Michigan Department of Natural Resources page on cougars, visit here. Its also important to note that the reports could be multiple sightings of the same animal, the DNR said. 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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. 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? We should never run from a cougar or other large carnivores. 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. On June 1, a camera caught a cougar in eastern Mackinac County, about 127 miles from where the April 24 photo was captured. The organization added that its important to note that the reports could be multiple sightings of the same animal. 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. Or, they could be transient or dispersing cougars from the nearest known breeding populations in North and South Dakota. The DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting its annual UP Winter wolf track survey. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. At least 6 cougars have been spotted in Michigan so far this year. This is about 5 miles from where another photo was captured on October 13 in Mackinac County. But thats mostly because sightings are relatively rare theres been about 55 total in the last 12 years, and all but one of those officially recorded have been in the Upper Peninsula. Just a day later, a trail camera captured a cougar in Ontanogon County, 120 miles from the picture on July 12. Just $1 per month , There's been an increase in cougar sightings in the Upper Peninsula over the last three years, By 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. Multiple sightings of the Region across six counties theres no evidence has been occurring in other. In 2020 lions were spotted in Michigan cougars are not protected in the state it is possible that or... 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