DNR Confirms Rare Cougar Cubs Still Alive in Michigan

For decades, cougar sightings in Michigan have all had something in common. They almost always involve a single, adult cat, and every confirmed one has been male.

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That is why what wildlife officials revealed earlier this year was such a big deal.

First Cougar Cubs in Michigan in Over a Century

Back in March, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources confirmed two cougar kittens had been spotted in the wild in the western Upper Peninsula. It was the first time in more than 100 years that cougar cubs had been documented in Michigan, as they were essentially hunted out of the state by the early 1900s.

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At the time, the kittens were only about two months old and were seen without their mother, which raised concerns about whether they would survive.

Now, nine months later, there is a remarkable update.

Michigan Cougar Cubs Spotted Once Again

The DNR has verified a trail camera photo taken on Dec. 6 showing an adult cougar walking through a snowy forest trail in central Ontonagon County, followed by two young cougars. According to DNR large carnivore specialist Brian Roell, the kittens now appear to be about a year old and are traveling with their mother.

“This is a historic confirmation for Michigan,” Roell said. “It is the first verified cougar reproduction in over 100 years and the first confirmed east of the Mississippi River, and possibly even east of the Missouri River.”

The photo was taken on private property and sent to the DNR by a landowner on Dec. 14. Roell visited the site the following day, and the agency’s cougar team confirmed the image after enhancing the nighttime photo. Though it's not easy to spot in the picture, experts say there is a second cub bringing up the rear. The sex of the kittens is still unknown.

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Until now, genetic testing in Michigan had only confirmed adult male cougars, and most verified sightings have involved the same animals being reported multiple times. Since 2008, the DNR has confirmed about 168 cougar sightings, all in the Upper Peninsula. Cougar kittens typically stay with their mother for about two years, and Roell says their chances of survival are fairly high because cougars put a lot of energy into raising their young.

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Why Michigan Cougars Are Rare

One mystery remains: despite the DNR operating more than 1,300 trail cameras across the U.P., this family went undocumented for nine months. While cougar sightings have increased in recent years, Roell says the animals will always remain rare because they need large territories and plenty of prey. Cougars are listed as endangered in Michigan, which means it is illegal to hunt or harass them, including trying to locate their den.

“Too much human pressure can cause a mother to abandon her cubs,” Roell said. “As with all wild animals, we’re asking the public to respect their habitat and allow them to live naturally.”