Cougar Sightings Go Beyond the Zoo

WWMT News Ch. 3, SW Michigan | 10/10/02 | Jill Dobson, News 3 Reporter

[FlyVet]

Cougar sightings go beyond the zoo By Jill Dobson, News 3 Reporter

(NEWS 3) - Are wild cougars on the prowl in Michigan?

Cougars have been blamed for a recent attack on farm animals in Kalkaska County. Most people have only seen cougars roaming in the zoo. But researchers at Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation say they've had reported sightings including in areas near Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Holland, Three Rivers and Cassopolis.

Researchers say cougars prey on four-legged animals, and are highly unlikely to attack humans.

Emmett Township resident Cyndy Ackley says she and her daughter were shocked to see a cougar one night two years ago. "This big animal just ran across the road and we both looked at each other and thought: that's not a deer,” she says. “And it wasn't a cat or a dog and we thought – that looked like a cougar."

Dennis Fijalkowski of the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation says, "We know we have them and what's important now is to acknowledge them so we can have some protection take place."

The foundation estimates that 50 to 80 of the animals are roaming Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas.

[FlyVet]

I grew up in Michigan, but this is the first time I ever heard of cougars being there.

[yooper]

"The foundation estimates that 50 to 80 of the animals are roaming Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas."

My own guess, based on what I've been reading, and based on the fact that the MDNR says there are no cougars, and based on the fact that I've seen a cougar on two separate occasions, is that there are at least one hundred of these animals in the Upper Peninsula alone.

[FlyVet]

That's quite interesting. I wonder where they came from, Minnesota? I also read on the same web site that western Yoopers are being bothered by 600-lb Russian wild boars that escaped from a game farm. That would be some fun hunting. Welcome to the jungle.

[MsLady]

I live in the U.P. and atleast 2 have been spotted in my area in the last year. One right next to where my daughter goes to school. Some one from the college here went and made and made plaster casts of the paw prints. The other one was spotted right close to our property. We live in the country. This is not a good thing. I'm not sure but, I don't believe they are native to this area. My personal thoughts are that the DNR is it again.

[Rocksalt]

Someone told me that the wild Boars that are seen sometimes in N.California are up to 600 or so pounds.Also heard it only takes about 3-4 generations for a hog to revert back to feral,complete with tusks.Nothing you want to challenge.I had one a little too close for comfort above Corralitos one night.Scared the poo out of me.
Cougars are usually pretty shy,although curious,attacks are really quite rare.They will follow a person out of curiousity,but usually not attack unless cornered.

[AdA$tra]

There have been several sightings here in Kansas as well. I recently heard of one over the police scanner. The dispatcher put out that a large "feline" had crossed the Interstate near my home. The responding officer said "lion???" The dispatcher said, "Well, I wasn't supposed to say that over the radio...." LOL.

The state wildlife folks officially deny the existance of pumas here. Mysteriously they recently made a rule against shooting mountain lions unless defending human life or livestock. Of course there aren't any so it doesn't matter.

[MsLady]

Hey yooper!!!!

[tubebender]

I grew up in Michigan, but this is the first time I ever heard of cougars being there.

We shipped them out from Calif by Greyhound. Even paid the frieght...

[AdA$tra]

one articel in our paper speculated that many have been kept as pets and may have been turned loose or escaped. There is also the fact the deer populations have gone out of control and that nature has a way of dealing with these things.

[AdA$tra]

one articel aka One article

[TXBubba]

Ahhh, nature. What, wild animals STILL exist? Guess too many folks believe we really have conquered and brought control to nature.

[STONEWALLS]

......we've had several sightings in Maryland in recent years also...most of them were dismissed by DNR as fake...but a couple years a cougar got into a pen of domesticated ducks and the farmer ran into his house and grabbed his video cam.....when DNR saw the footage they started scratching their heads in amazement...and so was everybody else....in our area, wolves and cougars have been extinct since before the civil war...

[Mrs. P]

A friend was just telling me that she's heard of a cougar being seen about 6 miles from her house. They live near St. Charles. My friend says they've found two dead animals on their property recently, one a rabbit and the other a very large raccoon, both had just their heads chewed off. Does this fit the MO of a cougar? I know my mousing cats will chew heads off of mice, but I'd think a cougar would eat the whole animal.

I think that most people who end up shooting any type of wild animal, whether in self defense or to protect livestock, just quietly bury the carcass. Who needs the DNR poking around and putting you in jail or confiscating your property because you destroyed an endangered animal?

[hosepipe]

To the people with neighbors that leave their dogs out to bark/yowl all night, this could be a good thing..

[Mrs. P]

My parents live in Grand Marais, and my father has seen wolves. I wonder if wolves and cougar can be in the same areas together.

[seams2me]

Cougars in St Charles? There was someone awhile back that hung themself out in a tree there....heard about it from some relatives out that way.

[seams2me]

Are you in fact a Yooper?

I was up there this summer, and got my son a t shirt that reads "get lost" and on the back it says "support EUP search an rescue". Cool.

[MichaelP]

They are well documented by state field biologists. They are also present throughtout the state, especially the northwestern lower, and the entire upper penisulas. The leave their evidence (scat) at watering holes.

Mike

[AdA$tra]

They live near St. Charles.

I have family in St. Charles. Like my part of Kansas, lots of isolated river bluff country. An excellent habitat. There is a stretch of land lying between I-70 and the Kansas River near Topeka that has been 90% sealed off to humans since the Interstate was built in the 1950's. I go there to watch the Bald Eagles and hunt mushrooms in season. I have been watching for cougars as well.