ONTONAGON COUNTY, Mich. – Cougar cubs were spotted living in Michigan for the first time in more than 100 years, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced.
Where were the cubs spotted?
State biologists confirmed that two cougar cubs are living in the wild on private land in Ontonagon County, which is located in the western Upper Peninsula.
When were the cubs discovered?
Their existence was verified from photos taken by a resident on Thursday, March 6.
How old are the cubs?
Biologists believe the cubs are about seven to nine weeks old.
The cougar cubs were found without their mother, but officials say cubs are typically dependent on their mothers and usually stay with them for the first two years of their lives, officials said.
1st time cubs spotted in Michigan in century
This discovery marks the first time cubs have been verified in Michigan since “big cats were hunted out of existence” in the state in the early 1900s, according to Brian Roell, large carnivore specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, who led the team that confirmed the existence of the cubs.
“It’s pretty exciting, considering this could be the first known cougar reproduction in modern times in the western Great Lakes states,” Roell said, 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.”
How many cougars are in Michigan?
The DNR has confirmed 132 reports of adult cougars, but so far, DNA testing has only confirmed male cougars.
Cougars are listed as endangered mammals in Michigan.
This means that it is illegal to hunt or harass them, which includes attempting to locate their den, according to Roell.
Has anyone spotted the cubs again?
The cubs haven’t been spotted since the photos were taken on March 6.
“Those young cougars are very vulnerable right now,” Roell said. “We don’t know where they are or if they’re even alive. Mother Nature can be very cruel.”
How to report cougar sightings
The Michigan DNR says cougar sightings can be reported on its Eyes in the Field system.
To see photos of cougar sightings in Michigan, visit here, and for more information, visit here.
