On May 12, 2021, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in southern Luce County while conducting field work. 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. 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. Im Sophia Saliby. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. So theyve done some DNA testing and the cougars that are coming to the U.P. 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. In 2020, the DNR has 12 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan, all in the Upper Peninsula. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. 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 This includes three from Dickinson County, two from Marquette County and one each from Baraga, Delta, Houghton, Luce, and Schoolcraft counties. But a rise in sightings does not necessarily mean more of the animals are reclaiming Michigan as their home. On June 25, 2021, trail camera photos were captured of a cougar in northern Houghton County. Published Oct 21, 2021 10:35 AM EDT. "In 2020, we confirmed actually 14 cougar reports," said Cody Norton from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. And we do have a cardboard cutout too that's kind of a life size cougar. The animals are protected by state law as an endangered species. And yeah, if anything like that happened, you'd want to report it to the local authorities or the DNR as soon as possible. Let's take a look at some common questions. On November 27, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar near Gulliver Lake, in Schoolcraft County. This is about 3 miles from where a December 22 video was captured in Delta County. Norton: From what we can tell, you know, a lot of times, some of our reports from last year were, you know, photos that were taken the same day within a mile of each other. "Cougars have lost substantial portions of their historical range, yet increased sightings suggest potential for re-establishment in some regions," the article stated. 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. Cougars are primarily nocturnal although they can be active during the day. This is about 160 miles from where October 13 photos were captured in Mackinac County. Though originally native to Michigan, cougars were driven from the states landscape due to several factors, including habitat loss, around the early 1900s. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. Visitor Centers across the state provide education programs, field trips, archery, fishing, trails and much more. On May 17, 2020, a DNR trail camera captured a photo of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. And in 2020, Michiganders reported seeing cougars 14 times, the most since the team formed. This is about 50 miles from where a July 20 video was captured in Baraga County. 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. On November 7, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southwest Baraga 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. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. These were about 40 miles from where tracks were found the day before in Delta County. 2020 Confirmed Cougar Sightings February 19, 2020 On February 19, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. Classes & Workshops; The highest number of Michigan cougar sightings has occurred during the past three years. The DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar . The last known wild cougar legally taken in the state occurred in 1906 near Newberry. 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. This is about 18 miles from where the June 1 photo was captured in Mackinac County. This is about 165 miles from where the June 6 photo was captured in Chippewa County. The DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting its annual UP Winter wolf track survey. DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. 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). There were 11 in 2019. . 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. Most of the reports Ive seen have been in the Western Upper Peninsula, Pepin continued. In Michigan, cougars are an endangered species and protected by law. In the early 2000's, many big cat sightings were . This is about 45 miles from where DNR staff found tracks on February 20th in . The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed six sightings of cougars in 2020. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Pepin says the reports help them understand behavior as well. WKAR Public Media | Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. READ: This Beloved Ann Arbor Farm Is Surviving the Pandemic Without PPP. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. michigan wolf sightings maphow to turn off second alert on iphone calendar. This Ones for Sale in Lake Superior, Accountability Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. 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. So, we've had two poached carcasses. No evidence has been found of a breeding population in Michigan, Pepin said. WKARs Sophia Saliby spoke with DNR large carnivore specialist, Cody Norton. At least one confirmed sighting of a Michigan mountain lion has been made in the Lower Peninsula. Updated: 6:52 PM EDT August 12, 2020. Click the box above for tips and tricks to fill your basket. 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. This is about 34 miles from where an October 31 photo was captured in Houghton County. Eleven confirmed panther sightings were made in 2019, 15 mountain lions were spotted in Michigan in 2020. But what should people do if they do see a cougar? 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. We asked BestReviews cooking expert Andrea Boudewijn for her best recommendations for Mothers Day gifts. Ten mountain lion sightings have now been confirmed in Michigans Upper Peninsula in 2021, according to the DNR. And in 2020, Michiganders reported seeing cougars 14 times, the most since the team formed. 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. 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. 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. law enforcement, legislation, rules and regulations, Accessible recreation opportunities in Michigan, All DNR-related boards, committees, and advisory groups, Find seasonal, part-time and full-time job openings with the DNR, information about volunteer and donation opportunities. Its part of the DNRs effort to monitor cougar populations in the Upper Peninsula and elsewhere in the state when sightings occur. On March 31, 2021, a trail camera video was captured of a cougar in northeast Dickinson County. DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. 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. 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. The animalswere trapped and hunted from the state around the turn of the 20th century, said Pepin, andare now listed as an endangeredspecies andprotected under state law. 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's not a lot of trees [and] not a lot of great habitat for cougars. Calendars: DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. This is about 47 miles from where a May 24 photo was captured in Marquette County. Volunteer Opportunities; At least 6 cougars have been spotted in Michigan so far this year. SEE ALSO: Blueberries, Blackberries, Peaches, Raspberries: Heres Where to Find U-Pick Farms in Michigan. 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. Support local journalism by becoming a new WKAR donor and get ad-free feeds of your favorite NPR podcasts with NPR+ when you donate $8/month or more! DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. Public Meetings; By . DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. State park, historic sites and visitor center events. It was the highest amount of cougar sightings in one year over the past decade. In 2011, one cougar traveled a record-breaking 2,100 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut. At least one confirmed sighting of a Michigan mountain lion has been made in the Lower Peninsula. A Fireball in Michigan Skies in 1965: What Really Happened. After an increase in sightings around 2008, the state Department of Natural Resources created a team to keep track of animals. Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 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 the box above to see all species, or click the species group below. On December 23, 2021, cougar tracks were found in southwestern Delta County. In 2019, at least 11 cougar sightings were confirmed in the state. Three of the sightings were in Delta County, while the other three took place in Schoolcraft, Chippewa and Ontonagon Counties. The DNR urges people to report cougar sightings on its website. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. Just a day later, a trail camera captured a cougar in Ontanogon County, 120 miles from the picture on July 12. According to Michigan Fox affiliate TV-6, a DNR team of biologists that investigates cougar reports had seen the trail cam photo, but initially couldnt confirm the source or location o fwhere it was taken. Is there a population of wild cougars in Michigan? 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. The first sighting happened on Feb. 19 after DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. | Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Its also important to note that the reports could be multiple sightings of the same animal, the DNR said. Morning 4: A look at recent confirmed cougar sightings in Michigan -- and more news Here are the top stories for the morning of Aug. 18, 2022 On Nov. 15, 2019, a trail camera captured a photo. humana fee schedule 2021; marshall funeral home suitland, md; liverpool fc doctor salary; All . When a DNR trail camera in 2018 captured a photo of a cougar in Gogebic County, Pepin added, "it marked the first time the department had caught a cougar on more than 3 million game camera images collected since 2009.". In the 13 years that the state's cougar team has been searching, they have verified at least 65 reports of a cougar traversing the Michigan wilderness. 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. Also known as pumas, panthers, mountain lions, cougar sightings remain extremely rare in Michigan. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A record 11 sightings came from the Upper Peninsula in 2019. The Michigan DNR has confirmed 51 cougar sightings since 2008. The organization added that its important to note that the reports could be multiple sightings of the same animal. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This is about 120 miles from where a November 7 photo was captured in Baraga County. Michigan Life It doesn't suggest that, you know, we necessarily obviously didn't have 14 different cougars showing up last year. Since 2008 there have been 55 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan and . If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. If cougars are here, where did they come from? Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. This is about 10 miles from where August 30 photos were captured in Luce County. Minnesota Minnesota does not have an established breeding population of mountain lions. 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. Fish and Wildlife Service. Cougars, also called mountain lions, were originally native to Michigan, but were extirpated from Michigan around the turn of the century. This is about 36 miles from where the January 12 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. What else does your team do once you have that information? Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below. Feb. 20, Schoolcraft County: DNR members identified cougar tracks while conducting wolf track surveys. Now, we have trail cameras, and we're seeing a ton of use out of those. "It was a cover-up initially related to . 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