Are Cougars Really Back In Michigan? DNR Evidence Says Yes

Michigan is home to plenty of exotic wildlife: deer, foxes, moose, and even squirrels! Okay, one of those is not the same as the others, but you get the point. For many years, I thought that black bears were about as exotic as it got here in the Mitten state, with my friend once showing me camera footage of a bear breaking into their parents' place up north.

But it turns out there is a more elusive animal that, if it weren't for random sightings on trail cameras and researchers identifying carcass remains, no one would believe it was in Michigan. I'm talking about cougars, an animal native to Michigan that was nearly wiped out in the early 1900s.

The Michigan DNR keeps an active counter of confirmed cougar sightings on its website, and this year, by far, has been the biggest year for cougar sightings in recent history.

READ MORE: 50 Birds Around Michigan You Know But Don't Really Know

The DNR reported the first cougar-cub sightings in the wild in over 100 years, and this year the count is at 27 confirmed sightings, continuing a rising trend that began in 2018.

Where Are The Cougars?

The cougars have primarily been spotted in the Upper Peninsula. While the reason for the uptick is not currently known, it can be attributed to both the elusiveness of cougars and the lack of hunting. As cool as it is to see a cougar, these cats are not friendly, especially if it has cubs around.

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While the DNR has been clear that just because these cougars have been sighted in the state doesn't mean they're reproducing here. They could just be migrating from farther North. Either way, Michigan will hopefully continue to see the cougar population rise.