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. 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, it is likely that we are just having more people turn in their photos. https://dev.michigan.local/som/json?sc_device=json, Go to Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, Carl T. 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YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. This was about 165 miles from where the June 6 photo was captured in Chippewa County. Though originally native to Michigan, cougars were driven from the states landscape due to several factors, including habitat loss, around the early 1900s. About a month and a half later, a trail camera caught a cougar in northern Mackinac County. The odds of encountering a cougar in the wild are very small and attacks are extremely rare. 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. Ten mountain lion sightings have now been confirmed in Michigans Upper Peninsula in 2021, according to the DNR. This is about 120 miles from where a November 27, 2020 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. Since then, the big cats have occasionally been spotted by residents wandering in from states like the Dakotas. 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. Since 2008 there have been 55 confirmed reports of cougars in Michigan and all but one have been in the Upper Peninsula. With so many people having trail cameras in the woods this time of year, catching an animal on camera is more likely. On May 13, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in eastern Dickinson County. And in 2020, Michiganders reported seeing cougars 14 times, the most since the team formed. DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. WKAR Public Media | All of the sightings were in the Upper Peninsula. On October 31, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in central Houghton County. They're using them [for] longer periods of the year. This is about 36 miles from where the January 12 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. Calendars: After an increase of sightings around 2008, the state Department of Natural Resources created a team to keep track of animals. 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. Confirmed sightings of the animal, also known as a puma or mountain lion, hit double digits for the first time in 2019, and the Michigan. What were seeing is sort of a migratory population where a family of cougars is established in one area. Cougars have been known to migrate 20 to 50 miles. Click the box above for tips and tricks to fill your basket. They are fairly certain some of the reports are the same animal, moving from place to place. Ever Wanted to Own an Island? DNR officials say the greater use of cameras by hunters and others is adding to the increased number of cougar reports. DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. On April 24, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Delta County, on the Stonington Peninsula. This is about 72 miles from where the April 24 photo was captured in Delta County(photograph not available). Please view our directory listingfor general contact information. | Although sightings are rare in Michigan, they have been on the rise in recent years. Public Meetings; Despite the occasional reported sightings, wildlife experts say theres no evidence of a breeding population in the state. On November 27, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar near Gulliver Lake, in Schoolcraft County. The head is relatively small compared to the body. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. This is about 3 miles from where a December 22 video was captured 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. Calendars: 2020 sightings On February 19, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in Delta County while conducting wolf track surveys. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. On June 1, a camera caught a cougar in eastern Mackinac County, about 127 miles from where the April 24 photo was captured. The Michigan DNR says. 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. To see the the Michigan Department of Natural Resources page on cougars, visit here. 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. This is about 160 miles from where October 13 photos were captured in Mackinac County. In addition to full time positions, we also hire many seasonal positions including park workers, interpreters, rangers, wildlife workers and more. Its the most confirmed sightings in one year in at least the last 12 years, according to DNR records. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Make your contribution today to fund more vetted news reports throughout mid-Michigan! In the early 2000's, many big cat sightings were . 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. This is about 120 miles from where a November 7 photo was captured in Baraga County. 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A trail camera captured this photo of a cougar on May 24 in western Marquette County. 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. 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. If cougars are here, where did they come from? The animals are protected by state law as an endangered species. Visitor Centers across the state provide education programs, field trips, archery, fishing, trails and much more. 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). Since 2008, the DNR has confirmed 61 cougar sightings, with only one of those coming in the Lower Peninsula, in 2017. For more information about recent confirmed sightings or to submit a cougar report, visit Michigan.gov/Cougars. Thanks for being here. This is about 120 miles from where a November 27, 2020 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. And we do have a cardboard cutout too that's kind of a life size cougar. This is about 10 miles from where August 30 photos were captured in Luce County. 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. One of the things the DNR is trying to find out is whether cougars are going to establish themselves here. "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. Updated: 6:52 PM EDT August 12, 2020. All of the sightings were in the Upper Peninsula. When the young are born, they sort of spread out from beyond that area. Classes & Workshops; 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. Let's take a look at some common questions. This conversation has been edited for clarity and conciseness. On June 1, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in eastern Mackinac County. This is about 18 miles from where the June 1 photo was captured in Mackinac County. Former Michigan GOP Lawmaker Who Lobbied Against Lobbyists is Now a Lobbyist, Law and Policy We'll take, you know, GPS coordinates for that location. Anything you can do to make them second guess whether you're a prey species or not and you should not be tangled with. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. This is about 50 miles from where a July 20 video was captured in Baraga County.. Find cross-country ski, ice fishing , snowmobiling info and much more. 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. Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. This is about 120 miles from where the July 12photo was captured in Delta County. 0:41. 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. 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. 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. The DNR has a ton of information on cougars in the state. There have been periodic reports of cougar sightings since that time from various locations in Michigan. Is there a population of wild cougars in Michigan? No evidence of cougars has been found. For a full listing of help desk numbers, field offices, and other ways we can help, please visit our contact page. Should not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed did they come from to keep track of.! 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