Michigan’s Cougar Sightings Reach New Peak in 2025

Confirmed cougar sightings in Michigan have been becoming more frequent in the last 10 years. The most sightings to date happened in 2025.

How Did Once Extinct Cougars Return to Michigan?

Cougars (also known as mountain lions) were historically native to both of Michigan's peninsulas, but were wiped out by the early 1900s. Cougars went extinct in Michigan due to intense human pressure, specifically systematic hunting, trapping, and poisoning driven by concerns over livestock predation and human safety.

Cougars began reappearing in Michigan with confirmed sightings in 2008. Cougars began migrating from established breeding populations in Western states such as North and South Dakota.

Read More: DNR Verifies First Cougar Hit by Car in the Upper Peninsula

The migration began with young males, but females and new cubs have been spotted in the last couple of years. This suggests a breeding population may be developing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. There is no official, specific population count for cougars in the state.

Cougars Spotted More In Michigan In 2025 Than Ever

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, cougar sightings in the Upper Peninsula have nearly doubled in the last couple of years. Many of the confirmed sightings have been caught trail cameras with some catching video of active cougars.

In 2025, the DNR had 34 confirmed cougar sightings and because a car hit one, DNA has been collected from one of the animals. Two cubs were spotted and photographed on March 6, 2025, and were captured on camera again on December 6, 2025 much larger and traveling with their mother.

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Cougars are making a comeback in Michigan, but it's too early to release actual numbers of these elusive big cats that are calling the Upper Peninsula their homes.

👇BELOW: 43 Photos of Michigan Cougars👇