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. On December 23, 2021, cougar tracks were found in southwestern Delta County. Whitmer Signs Historic New Legislation to Curb Gun Violence in Michigan. 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. 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. There's only been one sighting outside the Upper Peninsula, and that was in Clinton County in 2017. In a state where animals like deer dominate . 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. So, that helps if the animal is in a field or you know, without something as a size or scale reference. About a month later, a DNR trail camera caught a photo in southcentral Luce County, which was about 72 miles from the last sighting in April. Politics 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. And in 2020, Michiganders reported seeing cougars 14 times, the. He joins me now. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. Its part of the DNRs effort to monitor cougar populations in the Upper Peninsula and elsewhere in the state when sightings occur. 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. The DNR said last year that sightings could be increasing because more people are using trail cameras and reports, in general, are more frequent. DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. In 2011, one cougar traveled a record-breaking 2,100 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut. 100 Days Later: What Happens When Voters Put Democrats in Charge of State Government? One of the things the DNR is trying to find out is whether cougars are going to establish themselves here. The highest number of Michigan cougar sightings has occurred during the past three years. Delta, Luce and Mackinac counties tied for first place, each with three. The odds of encountering a cougar in the wild are very small and attacks are extremely rare. This is about 50 miles from where a June 25 photo was captured in Houghton County. Four additional sightings were confirmed after residents submitted trail camera photos of cougars. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. In its midseason update, the Department of Natural Resources said all of the sightings of the mysterious cats have been in. DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. And we do have a cardboard cutout too that's kind of a life size cougar. On Aug. 30, another trail camera saw a cougar in southcentral Luce County, about 180 miles from where the July 17 photo was captured. On July 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Ontonagon County. With so many people having trail cameras in the woods this time of year, catching an animal on camera is more likely. Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. Please view our directory listingfor general contact information. Saliby: Why are we seeing more cougar sightings in recent years? This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in. This is about 3 miles from where a December 22 video was captured in Delta County. DNR confirms cougar sighting near Lansing, Rare cougar photographed by Upper Peninsula trail camera, Cougar spotted in Michigan county is DNRs 40th confirmed sighting, Chicago men rescued near Drummond Island were found clinging to overturned boat. Just five days later, a trail camera caught a cougar in eastern Chippewa County, about 18 miles from the location of the June 1 photo. The DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting its annual UP Winter wolf track survey. Just a day later, a trail camera captured a cougar in Ontanogon County, 120 miles from the picture on July 12. In 2019, at least 11 cougar sightings were confirmed in the state. These steps are often compact, practical and easy to move. 0:41. 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. That cat was photographed in June, 2017 in the Rose Lake State Wildlife Area in Bath Township, near Lansing. The DNR is reporting 10 confirmed. All rights reserved (About Us). Cougars have been known to migrate 20 to 50 miles. They're getting cheaper [and] easier for people to use. Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below. only one of those coming in the Lower Peninsula, Report the encounter to local authorities. Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below. 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. At least 6 cougars have been spotted in Michigan so far this year. 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. On November 7, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southwest Baraga County. We'll take, you know, GPS coordinates for that location. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Calendars: 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. However, it boarders North and South Dakota, both of which do have established mountain lion populations. But if you do see a cougar, Skeldon asks that you try and . Click the box above for tips and tricks to fill your basket. Three of the sightings were in Delta County, while the other three took place in Schoolcraft, Chippewa and Ontonagon Counties. In Michigan, cougars are an endangered species and protected by law. In addition to full time positions, we also hire many seasonal positions including park workers, interpreters, rangers, wildlife workers and more. This Ones for Sale in Lake Superior, Accountability 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. 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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. Michigan now has confirmation of no less than 74 mountain lion sightings in the state over the last 14 years. The DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar . On March 31, 2021, a trail camera video was captured of a cougar in northeast Dickinson County. If this trend continues, the Upper Peninsula appears poised to have a modern record for cougar sightings in 2021, topping 15 in 2020. The media . 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. 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. A record 11 sightings came from the Upper Peninsula in 2019. What do they look like? The photo was taken in Dickinson County in Michigans Upper Peninsula in September. 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. 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. For more information about recent confirmed sightings or to submit a cougar report, visit Michigan.gov/Cougars. (WXYZ) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported 13 confirmed cougar sightings across the state in 2020. Though originally native to Michigan, cougars were driven from the states landscape due to several factors, including habitat loss, around the early 1900s. Let's take a look at some common questions. DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. Find cross-country ski, ice fishing , snowmobiling info and much more. What to do, Wyoming police investigate body found in Grand River, Student to face charges for threat to school district, $1 million grant supports mental health at Davenport, Reports: Man drinking before crashing into lake, Amish family grateful for support after buggy crash, Cedar Point dropped its gate price this season, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. This is about 95 miles from where a November 12 photo was captured in Baraga County. 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. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. The Michigan DNR has confirmed 51 cougar sightings since 2008. It is the most in a. In February, DNR Wildlife Division staff confirmed two of those reports after finding cougar tracks while conducting the U.P. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The sightings ranged from the western to the eastern part of the region across six counties. This is about 125 miles from where tracks were found on May 12 in Luce 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. Now, we have trail cameras, and we're seeing a ton of use out of those. The DNR urges people to report cougar sightings on its website. DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. "Cougars have lost substantial portions of their historical range, yet increased sightings suggest potential for re-establishment in some regions," the article stated. On May 17, 2020, a DNR trail camera captured a photo of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. And also, everybody has a cell phone in their pocket, so if they come across tracks or scat, they can record it immediately. Written By That's the highest number reported since 2008, when the DNR first began tracking cougars. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. If children are present, pick them up so they cannot run. This is about 1 mile from where another photo was captured on August 30 in Luce County. 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. So, when he heard that a cougar may have been seen . 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 is about 34 miles from where an October 31 photo was captured in Houghton County. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. This is about 30 miles from where the January 26 photo was captured in Delta County. More than a 100 years ago, native cougars, or mountain lions, disappeared from Michigan. He's been with WDIV since 2013. Just $1 per month , There's been an increase in cougar sightings in the Upper Peninsula over the last three years, By | RELATED: State Parks Now Open for Midweek Campers, Remote Workers as Michigan DNR Unveils New Booking Tool. 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. On April 24, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Delta County, on the Stonington Peninsula. February 20, 2020 Ten mountain lion sightings have now been confirmed in Michigans Upper Peninsula in 2021, according to the DNR. No evidence of cougars has been found. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. are coming from the West of us, the Minnesota, the Dakotas, that Kind of thing.. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. This is about 120 miles from where a November 27, 2020 photo was captured in Schoolcraft 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. This situation is not unique to Michigan, and has been occurring in many other mid-western and eastern states as well. Since then, the big cats have occasionally been spotted by residents as they wander in from states like the Dakotas. Cougars are tan to brown. Thanks for being here. On October 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in western Mackinac County. This is about 45 miles from where DNR staff found tracks on February 20th in Schoolcraft County. Cougars are not protected in the state of Ohio, because they are not indigenous here. This is about 120 miles from where the July 12photo was captured in Delta County. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. If youre shopping for top products on the market, here are the best 14 products the BestReviews Testing Lab loved in March. On April 24, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Delta County, on the Stonington Peninsula. However, the team was able to investigate the report after the owner of the photo saw a newspaper story about it and contacted DNR. 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. 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. humana fee schedule 2021; marshall funeral home suitland, md; liverpool fc doctor salary; Face the animal and do not act submissive. To see the the Michigan Department of Natural Resources page on cougars, visit here. 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 head is relatively small compared to the body. When we get them, we go out and investigate them and try to substantiate the reports.. Ever Wanted to Own an Island? 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. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. Despite the occasional reported sightings, wildlife experts say theres no evidence of a breeding population in the state. Volunteer Opportunities; Minnesota Minnesota does not have an established breeding population of mountain lions. This is about 72 miles from where the April 24 photo was captured in Delta County(photograph not available). 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