First cougar cubs verified in Michigan in more than a century

[cheeser]

First cougar cubs verified in Michigan in more than a century

This is the first time cougar cubs have been verified since the big cats were hunted out of existence in Michigan in the early 1900s.

www.uppermichiganssource.com

ONTONAGON COUNTY, Mich. (WLUC) - For the first time in more than 100 years, cougar cubs have been discovered living in the Michigan wild, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

State biologists on Wednesday confirmed the existence of two cougar cubs on private land in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula. The spotted cubs, believed to be 7 to 9 weeks old, were verified from photographic evidence of the cubs taken March 6 by a local resident.

This is the first time cougar cubs have been verified since the big cats were hunted out of existence in Michigan in the early 1900s, said Brian Roell, large carnivore specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Roell, a wildlife biologist for 26 years, led the team that verified the cubs.

“It’s pretty exciting, considering this could be the first known cougar reproduction in modern times in the western Great Lakes states,” said Roell, referring to Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. “It really shows that we have a unique place in Michigan where someone has a chance to see a wolf, a moose and a cougar in the wild. It’s something that should be celebrated, that we have the habitat to support an elusive animal like this.”

 

[Perlodid]

First cougar cubs verified in Michigan in more than a century

This is the first time cougar cubs have been verified since the big cats were hunted out of existence in Michigan in the early 1900s.

www.uppermichiganssource.com

ONTONAGON COUNTY, Mich. (WLUC) - For the first time in more than 100 years, cougar cubs have been discovered living in the Michigan wild, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

State biologists on Wednesday confirmed the existence of two cougar cubs on private land in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula. The spotted cubs, believed to be 7 to 9 weeks old, were verified from photographic evidence of the cubs taken March 6 by a local resident.

This is the first time cougar cubs have been verified since the big cats were hunted out of existence in Michigan in the early 1900s, said Brian Roell, large carnivore specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Roell, a wildlife biologist for 26 years, led the team that verified the cubs.

“It’s pretty exciting, considering this could be the first known cougar reproduction in modern times in the western Great Lakes states,” said Roell, referring to Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. “It really shows that we have a unique place in Michigan where someone has a chance to see a wolf, a moose and a cougar in the wild. It’s something that should be celebrated, that we have the habitat to support an elusive animal like this.”

Pretty amazing. Always wondered if we would see this someday in the UP. I'll be curious to find out if this is an isolated incident or if we will get more over time. I'm not a cougar expert, but the habitat appears to be there.

 

[Birdbander]

I have a few grouse covers there and although I hope that neither my dogs or I run into one on bad terms, it's nice to know the UP is wild enough to support them.

 

[idelkslayer]

“... that we have the habitat to support an elusive animal like this."

He says next to a photo of a mtn lion cub hiding behind a tire.