michigan cougar sightings map 2020

This is about 10 miles from where August 30 photos were captured in Luce County. In Michigan, cougars are an endangered species and protected by law. 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. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is about 10 miles from where August 30 photos were captured in Luce County. 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. You wouldn't want to play dead, like you might with like a brown bear. So, when he heard that a cougar may have been seen . Delta, Luce and Mackinac counties tied for first place, each with three. On October 31, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in central Houghton County. 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. And also, everybody has a cell phone in their pocket, so if they come across tracks or scat, they can record it immediately. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. So, we do, especially with trail cameras, it makes it pretty convenient because you have background. The DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting its annual UP Winter wolf track survey. 14 confirmed cougar sightings in Michigan in 2020 8,264 views Mar 14, 2021 69 Dislike Share Save FOX 17 WXMI 23.7K subscribers Fox 17's Jamie Smet spoke to the DNR about the abnormally large. This is about 18 miles from where the June 1 photo was captured in Mackinac County. When we get them, we go out and investigate them and try to substantiate the reports.. While mountain lions are native to Michigan, their numbers diminished to almost zero by the 1900s. All rights reserved. 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. Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. This is about 34 miles from where an October 31 photo was captured in Houghton County. Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The odds of encountering a cougar in the wild are very small and attacks are extremely rare. Based on documented evidence, cougars observed in Michigan could be escaped or released pets. This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in Schoolcraft County on February 20, 2020. Since 2008, the DNR has confirmed 61 cougar sightings, with only one of those coming in the Lower Peninsula, in 2017. The number is down 40 percent from 15 sightings in 2020, according to the DNR's data. Cougars were native to Michigan, but . In 2020, the DNR has 12 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan, all in the Upper Peninsula. The cougar typically weighs between 90 and 180 lbs, with a few large males topping 200 lbs. It doesn't suggest that, you know, we necessarily obviously didn't have 14 different cougars showing up last year. On August 30, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. Also known as pumas, panthers, mountain lions, cougar sightings remain extremely rare in Michigan. 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. All Six Cougar Sightings Recorded in Upper Peninsula for 2020. SEE ALSO: Blueberries, Blackberries, Peaches, Raspberries: Heres Where to Find U-Pick Farms in Michigan. On February 19, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. WKAR Public Media | "In 2020, we confirmed actually 14 cougar reports," said Cody Norton from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 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? Written By (WXYZ) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed cougar sightings across the state in 2020. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. 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. On July 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Ontonagon County. More than a 100 years ago, native cougars, or mountain lions, disappeared from Michigan. Calendars: Although sightings are rare in Michigan, they have been on the rise in recent years. 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. This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in. All . So, it is likely that we are just having more people turn in their photos. (DNR). On June 1, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in eastern Mackinac County. "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. The Michigan DNR has confirmed 51 cougar sightings since 2008. Saliby: Is it a good thing or something that we should be concerned about, seeing more cougars in Michigan? With so many people having trail cameras in the woods this time of year, catching an animal on camera is more likely. Not too long ago, several Monroe County residents were certain they spotted a cougar lurking on their property or running through ditches. The species in Michigan is listed as endangered and is protected under state law. A few people who owned cougars or large cats prior to 2000 are still permitted to own these animals. 2023 Michigan State University Board of Trustees, Credit Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Find cross-country ski, ice fishing , snowmobiling info and much more. Cougars have been known to migrate 20 to 50 miles. 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. In the early 2000's, many big cat sightings were . On July 20, 2021, a trail camera video was captured of a cougar in southeastern Baraga County. 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. 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. In its midseason update, the Department of Natural Resources said all of the sightings of the mysterious cats have been in. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. This is about 50 miles from where a July 20 video was captured in Baraga County. Fish and Wildlife Service. So, we've had two poached carcasses. 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. Male cougars are known to travel great distancesin search of places to establish breeding locations with available females, said John Pepin, deputy public information officer at DNR, and it is almost always males that are recorded inconfirmed sightings. There is no photo available. There have been 11 cougar sightings in Michigan in 2021, as of mid . If you have children with you or pets, if you can pick them up, so that they don't run away, that's always a good way to go. In February, DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting the U.P. And yeah, if anything like that happened, you'd want to report it to the local authorities or the DNR as soon as possible. On June 6, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in eastern Chippewa County. To see the the Michigan Department of Natural Resources page on cougars, visit here. On February 20, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in southeastern Schoolcraft County while conducting wolf track surveys. It was the highest amount of cougar sightings in one year over. Never run from a cougar or other large carnivore. This is about 120 miles from where a November 7 photo was captured in Baraga County. If children are present, pick them up so they cannot run. When the young are born, they sort of spread out from beyond that area. We'll take, you know, GPS coordinates for that location. Sophia Saliby: This is All Things Considered on WKAR. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "Cougars have lost substantial portions of their historical range, yet increased sightings suggest potential for re-establishment in some regions," the article stated. 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. For more information about recent confirmed sightings or to submit a cougar report, visit Michigan.gov/Cougars. In a state where animals like deer dominate . Just $1 per month , There's been an increase in cougar sightings in the Upper Peninsula over the last three years, By Since 2008 there have been 55 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan and . 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. The DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar . This is about 125 miles from where tracks were found on May 12 in Luce County. Is there a population of wild cougars in Michigan? The last known wild cougar taken legally in the state happened over 100 years ago in Newberry, the hometown of the Tahquamenon Falls. Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. Houghton County Michigan DNR has confirmed 61 cougar sightings Recorded in Upper.! Considered on WKAR first place, each with three eastern Chippewa County amount of cougar sightings Recorded in Upper for. 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