jci63 Posted February 5, 2005 Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 Tests confirm cougar in Upper Peninsula February 3, 2005, 7:17 PM LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- DNA testing has confirmed that a large cat struck by a vehicle last year was a cougar, but it remains unclear whether Michigan has an established population of wildcats, a state wildlife official said Thursday. A motorist reported hitting "a large cat" in southern Menominee County on November 2, 2004. The driver turned over hair samples collected from the bumper to biologists at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources field office in Escanaba. The samples were forwarded to the Wildlife Division's pathology lab, then sent to Central Michigan University for analysis. "This is exactly the kind of information we are looking for to gain a better understanding of what animals are present in Michigan and identify potential areas for additional work," said Ray Rustem, the DNR's natural heritage unit supervisor. Even so, he said, the test result "still does not confirm the presence of a breeding population in Michigan." The nonprofit Michigan Wildlife Conservancy contends there is such a population and has been trying to document it for several years. DNR officials say even if people occasionally spot cougars, the animals might be just passing through or could be pets that were released into the wild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted February 5, 2005 Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 Re: Cougar Confirmed in Michigan Thanks for the post. I always believed it anyways. too_pointer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ronin Posted February 5, 2005 Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 Re: Cougar Confirmed in Michigan Heck, if they want some...come over my way. They're all over the place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted February 5, 2005 Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 Re: Cougar Confirmed in Michigan there was a sighting in my town of Arnprior, ON. 20 mins west of Ottawa. i sure dont want them things runnin around i sure can believe that they are in MI. there terrain is just like Ontario's pretty much. which is suitable climate for cougars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted February 5, 2005 Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 Re: Cougar Confirmed in Michigan Here in iowa weve had three or 4 killed and lots of reports, some confirmed, some that werent.Cougars are realy spreading out these days thanks to thier protected status in a lotta states and antis getting cougar hunting stopped in others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherguy Posted February 6, 2005 Report Share Posted February 6, 2005 Re: Cougar Confirmed in Michigan They got DNA evidence of one in northwestern ontario a few years ago. For ever there have been sightings, and a few seemed reliable but then they got on fresh tracks in the snow and got some feces to get dna from. Last i heard they believed they were wild, but even sightings are so uncommon nobody is sure if it is just the odd one that wanders into the are, or if there is a very very small breeding population. I tend to go for scenario # 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted February 7, 2005 Report Share Posted February 7, 2005 Re: Cougar Confirmed in Michigan [ QUOTE ] We need some evidence to show the Game Commission here in PA. I've seen them around but they won't say that they put them here. [/ QUOTE ] Its more likely that you have a resident or transient population that's native to the area. Keep in mind that a cougar's home range is usually very large - anywhere from 30 to 100 miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MarylandQDMA Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 Re: Cougar Confirmed in Michigan I have herd we have one or two around here. infact about 8 to 10 years ago, some one about 10min away from where I live took a picture of one in his yard. the person did not know what it was took the picture, showed it to a fish and wildlife employee and asked what it was. the fish and game told him it was a cougar and was wondering where the photo was taken (thinking in was out west). to his suprise he found out it was taken in the guys yard. another time are dogs were going crazy, the next day, my father went looking for what had the dogs all in arms. walked down to the stream and found cougar prints in the silt along the stream. I figure the cats are (were) just passing thru. to much human activaty around here for them to stay. allthough you never know. we do have a lot of rock outcroping and small caves. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Cougar Confirmed in Michigan mike, I really believe I have seen one in my area also, I was only maybe 30 yards from it, and it was moving slow. The stupid DNR can't tell a bobcat from a cougar LOL. This cat was around 60-75 lbs, and had a long thick tail, not a bob-tail I am not believing much of anything the Mi. DNR say anymore too_pointer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.