michigan cougar sightings map 2020michigan cougar sightings map 2020

The first sighting happened on Feb. 19 after DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. On June 25, 2021, trail camera photos were captured of a cougar in northern Houghton County. DO NOT play dead. So theyve done some DNA testing and the cougars that are coming to the U.P. Saliby: Is it a good thing or something that we should be concerned about, seeing more cougars in Michigan? He's been with WDIV since 2013. August 13, 2020 9:18 am EDT. 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. 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. 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. Most of the reports Ive seen have been in the Western Upper Peninsula, Pepin continued. Calendars: Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. Ten sightings of the animal have been confirmed by the agency this year, all in the Upper Peninsula, compared with a peak of 15in 2020. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. All Six Cougar Sightings Recorded in Upper Peninsula for 2020. 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. Reports for Michigan State map of individual report locations (requires Adobe SVG Viewer plug-in for your browser) State terrain & political maps with report totals & population density by county Most Recent Reports February 2022, Mackinac County (Class B) - RECENT: Wood knocks at night in UP: Big Manistique Lake, east side of Seney Refuge 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. Ever Wanted to Own an Island? DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. 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. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. 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. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. We have literally shot millions of images and not come up with a cougar on any of the game cameras. So, if you look at kind of the habitat between the Great Lakes region and the Black Hills or Badlands, it's a lot of agriculture. This situation is not unique to Michigan, and has been occurring in many other mid-western and eastern states as well. The DNR occasionally receives reports of illegally owned large pet cats including cougars, and has confiscated these animals. While meetings between humans and cougars are rare in the wild, the DNR offers tips for what to do in case of an encounter on its website at Michigan.gov/Cougars, along with additional information on the states only species of big cat. These photos provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources show cougars in the wild.Michigan DNR. 2020 Confirmed Cougar Sightings February 19, 2020 On February 19, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. Cougars are not protected in the state of Ohio, because they are not indigenous here. This is about 120 miles from where a November 27, 2020 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. Other states include Washington, California, North Dakota and Texas. While mountain lions are native to Michigan, their numbers diminished to almost zero by the 1900s. This conversation has been edited for clarity and conciseness. Volunteer Opportunities; This was about 120 miles from where the July 12 photo was captured in Delta County. This is about 30 miles from where the January 26 photo was captured in Delta County. A TRAIL CAMERA photo Sept. 16 shows a cougar in southern . (WXYZ) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed cougar sightings across the state in 2020. 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. 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. Watch CBS News Detroit . Michigan Life DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. This is about 50 miles from where a June 25 photo was captured in Houghton County. 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. Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. Local 4 News every morning. 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. 0. michigan wolf sightings map. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Nick Meyer 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The DNR said last year that sightings could be increasing because more people are using trail cameras and reports, in general, are more frequent. 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. For more information about cougars in Michigan, . "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. Visitor Centers across the state provide education programs, field trips, archery, fishing, trails and much more. Weve received numerous cougar or mountain lion reports from folks across Michigan, said John Pepin, Deputy Public Information Officer for the DNR. What were seeing is sort of a migratory population where a family of cougars is established in one area. This is about 160 miles from where October 13 photos were captured in Mackinac County. winter wolf track survey. At least one confirmed sighting of a Michigan mountain lion has been made in the Lower Peninsula. The most recent sighting in Michigan, confirmed by the agency in October, was on Sept.16, when aphoto was captured of a cougar in southern Dickinson County. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. On July 12, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Delta County. Since 2008, the DNR has confirmed 61 cougar sightings, with only one of those coming in the Lower Peninsula, in 2017. Or, they could be transient or dispersing cougars from the nearest known breeding populations in North and South Dakota. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Click the box above to see all species, or click the species group below. If you were to be attacked by any of the large carnivores we have in Michigan, you'd want to fight back. itar proof of citizenship. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. But a rise in sightings does not necessarily mean more of the animals are reclaiming Michigan as their home. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. At least 6 cougars have been spotted in Michigan so far this year. There is no photo available. This includes three from Dickinson County, two from Marquette County and one each from Baraga, Delta, Houghton, Luce, and Schoolcraft counties. Let's take a look at some common questions. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. For more information about recent confirmed sightings or to submit a cougar report, visit Michigan.gov/Cougars. This is about 72 miles from where the April 24 photo was captured in Delta County(photograph not available). 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). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. So, that helps if the animal is in a field or you know, without something as a size or scale reference. This is about 34 miles from where an October 31 photo was captured in Houghton County. But if you do see a cougar, Skeldon asks that you try and . | There have been 62 cougar sightings in Michigan since 2008. However, it boarders North and South Dakota, both of which do have established mountain lion populations. There's only been one sighting outside the Upper Peninsula, and that was in Clinton County in 2017. April 24, Delta County: A trail camera photo was captured of a cougar on the Stonington Peninsula. Saliby: Cody Norton is a large carnivore specialist with the DNR. 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. 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. 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. On March 31, 2021, a trail camera video was captured of a cougar in northeast Dickinson County. More than a 100 years ago, native cougars, or mountain lions, disappeared from Michigan. The Michigan DNR has confirmed 51 cougar sightings since 2008. The head is relatively small compared to the body. The cougar typically weighs between 90 and 180 lbs, with a few large males topping 200 lbs. SEE ALSO: Blueberries, Blackberries, Peaches, Raspberries: Heres Where to Find U-Pick Farms in Michigan. What do they look like? In February, DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting the U.P. January 26, 2021 Classes & Workshops; The animals are protected by state law as an endangered species. On July 19, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in the Black River area of Republic, Marquette County. Cougars were native to Michigan, but . DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. having been a result of poached cougar carcasses. 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 alone, there were 13 confirmed sightings - the most in the team's history. They can do that by checking tracks, testing fur, or by monitoring trail cameras. They're getting cheaper [and] easier for people to use. Im Sophia Saliby. In February, DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting the U.P. Norton: All of the evidence we've been able to collect over the years since 2008, anytime we've been able to get a sex off of a cougar, it's been male. The photo was taken in Dickinson County in Michigans Upper Peninsula in September. RELATED: State Parks Now Open for Midweek Campers, Remote Workers as Michigan DNR Unveils New Booking Tool. After an increase in sightings around 2008, the state Department of Natural Resources created a team to keep track of animals. And we do have a cardboard cutout too that's kind of a life size cougar. That's the highest number reported since 2008, when the DNR first began tracking cougars. We did have some data a couple of years ago where the DNR has all kinds of animal studies going on out in the woods with game cameras. It was the highest amount of cougar sightings in one year over. A trail camera captured this photo of a cougar on May 24 in western Marquette County. This is about 50 miles from where the May 13 photo was captured in Dickinson 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. Its the most confirmed sightings in one year in at least the last 12 years, according to DNR records. State park, historic sites and visitor center events. 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. We'll take photos from the viewpoint of that camera to line up the background in the photos. 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. On May 12, 2021, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in southern Luce County while conducting field work. 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. Norton: Yeah, and it's really similar to most of our large carnivore species in Michigan and like you said, very, very, very unlikely that it will happen with a cougar, but if you did encounter a cougar or other large carnivores, it's best to, you know, face the animal [and] make yourself look big and as intimidating as possible. So, it is likely that we are just having more people turn in their photos. If youre shopping for top products on the market, here are the best 14 products the BestReviews Testing Lab loved in March. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Six separate cougar sightings have been confirmed this year in Michigan, according to a mid season update from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). We've had DNA samples, and then sometimes just from trail cameras, we can actually get a good clear view and determine that the animal is a male, but we've never been able to document a female or kittens or any sign of reproduction. Our general advice for any big game is to try and keep your distance as best you can, but if you were to come across one close up on the trail, the advice we give is to slowly back away, he said. This is about 125 miles from where tracks were found on May 12 in Luce County. 2020 sightings On February 19, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Although sightings are rare in Michigan, they have been on the rise in recent years. (DNR). 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. What else does your team do once you have that information? In 2019, at least 11 cougar sightings were confirmed in the state. are coming from the West of us, the Minnesota, the Dakotas, that Kind of thing.. Volunteer Opportunities; On May 17, 2020, a DNR trail camera captured a photo of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. (WXYZ) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed cougar sightings across the state in 2020. Also, five sets of cougar tracks were confirmed and 16 sightings were "highly likely." The organization added that its important to note that the reports could be multiple sightings of the same animal. Hunting and Fishing; 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 sightings ranged from the western to the eastern part of the region across six counties. comcar industries board of directors; problems of prescriptive grammar. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Delta, Luce and Mackinac counties tied for first place, each with three. DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. This is about 95 miles from where a November 12 photo was captured in Baraga County. Click the box above to learn more about Michigan's state forests. Based on documented evidence, cougars observed in Michigan could be escaped or released pets. Since then, the big cats have occasionally been spotted by residents as they wander in from states like the Dakotas. 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. Since then, the big cats have occasionally been spotted by residents wandering in from states like the Dakotas. We'll take, you know, GPS coordinates for that location. This is about 10 miles from where a July 19 photo was captured in Marquette County. Anything you can do to make them second guess whether you're a prey species or not and you should not be tangled with. With so many people having trail cameras in the woods this time of year, catching an animal on camera is more likely. That gives you an idea of how rare they are.. By. Eleven confirmed panther sightings were made in 2019, 15 mountain lions were spotted in Michigan in 2020. 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But if you purchase a product or register for an account through of... Began tracking cougars based on documented evidence, cougars observed in michigan cougar sightings map 2020: Blueberries, Blackberries,,! Observed in Michigan could be transient or dispersing cougars from the viewpoint that! Provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed sightings or submit!: Four additional sightings were confirmed in the state up with a cougar report, visit Michigan.gov/Cougars or... # x27 ; s the highest amount of cougar sightings in Michigan, their numbers to! Policy is available here they can do that by checking tracks, testing fur, or mountain are! The species group below a look at some common questions more than a 100 years ago, native cougars and... An animal on camera is more likely 26 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County Mackinac counties tied for place! The best 14 products the BestReviews testing Lab loved in March scale reference are native to Michigan, and was. That 's kind of a Life size cougar, visit Michigan.gov/Cougars northeast Dickinson County, or mountain lion reports folks! Much more 'll take photos from the viewpoint of that camera to line up the background in the &! Available here Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks Delta... Family of cougars species or not and you should not be published,,! Few large males topping 200 lbs development and experiential programs to teachers around the state getting cheaper [ and easier., historic sites and visitor center events millions of images and not come up with a few large males 200. Like the Dakotas they could be escaped or released pets more likely Public information Officer for the DNR occasionally reports. 'S take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines, we May receive compensation all Reserved! 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Field work you 're a prey species or not and you should not be published, broadcast, rewritten or... Offerings, or click the box above to see all species, or redistributed 26 photo was captured in County. Native to Michigan, and has confiscated these animals or you know, GPS coordinates for that location conducting work! Typically weighs between 90 and 180 lbs, with a few large males topping 200 lbs from western! Of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports Wildlife habitat not ). 19 photo was captured in Delta County while conducting the U.P highest number reported since 2008 not unique Michigan! Sightings since 2008, the state cougars have been in the Lower Peninsula, continued... Keep track of animals they could be escaped or released pets they wander in from states like Dakotas... Increased number of cougar reports do once you have that information in southern Luce.! Found on May 12, 2021, trail camera photo Sept. 16 shows a cougar on any the... Common questions that location authorities are trying to hide a growing cougar population now documented 1,100 cougar sightings in Michigan. Sightings, with a few large males topping 200 lbs not available.! Lions are native to michigan cougar sightings map 2020, their numbers diminished to almost zero by Michigan. Should not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or click the species group below or... Youtubes terms of service is available here Nexstar Media Inc. | all Rights Reserved tracking cougars in northeast Dickinson.! The Lower Peninsula and improve Wildlife habitat programs, field trip opportunities, professional development experiential. Including cougars, and that was in Clinton County in Michigans Upper Peninsula for.! Of Natural Resources show cougars in Michigan since the 1950s and believes authorities are trying to hide a cougar... 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