Cougar Sightings on the Rise in Michigan This Year

Cougars were native to Michigan but were eliminated by the early 1900s.. There have been 21 confirmed cougar sightings so far in 2025.

There has been a resurgence of confirmed cougar sightings since 2008. Thanks to hunters and their trail cameras, photos and videos of these cats have been captured. In March 2025, confirmed sightings of cougar cubs indicated that a successful breeding population is becoming established.

History of Cougars in Michigan

Cougars once thrived in Michigan, playing a role in the ecosystem. At the time, buffalo and whitetail deer were abundant across the state. As people settled in Michigan, they killed cougars that threatened their livestock. Bounties were often placed on cougars, which had been considered nuisance animals.

The last known legally taken wild cougar in Michigan was in 1906. Since then, there have been occasional unconfirmed reports of cougar sightings, but confirmed sightings did not begin occurring regularly until 2008.

Read More: Cougar Cubs Confirmed in Michigan for First Time in a Century

Wildlife Officials Report Surge In MI Cougar Sightings

Cougars are quietly making a comeback in Michigan, since being wiped out in the early 1900s. What began 17 years ago with lone male cougars leaving western states has evolved into females arriving and cubs being born in early 2025.

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According to FOX 17, there have been 21 confirmed cougar sightings in 2025. According to the DNR, the majority of sightings have occurred in the western Upper Peninsula. Multiple confirmed sightings have been made every month this year except for August, and we still have three months to go. Here is a link to photos of many of the confirmed cougar sightings.

In 2024, there were 23 confirmed sightings, which have been on an upward trend since 2020. It’s promising to see cougars return, but as in the 1800s, they could pose problems if they spread to the Lower Peninsula.

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