MICHIGAN CITIZENS for COUGAR RECOGNITION
BARAGA County Sightings



02/21/1902Silver Lake, 7 miles East of L'Anse
1937Huron Mountains
06/30/88Cougar chasing cattle SW of Pelkie; Observed by L'Anse High School Principal Sally Narhi
08/89Alberta
10/89Dynamite Hill Road; Observed by Brian JentoftBLACK
Summer, 1990Skanee on Silver River; Observed by Sandy and Hazel Menge
Summer, 1990Lac LaBelle area; observed by Dick Vandevusse
10/9/90Roland Lake; Plaster track obtained by Forestry Consultant Gary Willis
3/23/91Anaheim area in Otter Lake Diversion Canal Road; Observed by Melvina Jaukkuri
06/91L'Anse Sentinel states that DNR Forest, Wildlife, and Natural Heritage Section Leader John Hendrickson authorized the use of dogs to tail a large cat allegedly sighted by Melvin Myllyla near Pequaming. A delay between the sighting and receiving permission to track combined with hot, dry weather, however, yielded a fruitless two-hour search. Search led by DNR District 1 Wildlife Biologist Rob Aho with assistance of Rodger Cram's hounds.
06/09/91M-28 East of Tioga Creek Roadside Park; Observed by Michigan State Police Trooper
06/22/03Highway 41 N of Baraga, 1 mile N of Sturgeon Road, right about where Kelsey Creek crosses Highway 41
08/05/03Herman Road S of the Poor Farm Road intersection
10/24/03Near Big Erics Bridge on the NW road running from the AAA Road to Skanee. E of the Huron Mountain Club and Skanee, Running from Lake Michigan Shore
05/30/04SW of Baraga in Baraga Township on the Clear Creek Road (USFS 2200) off the Plains Road appx. ½ mile N b/f where the Clear Creek crosses under Clear Creek Road
08/04Observed by Ruth K. of Chasell
09/26/05Baraga Plains Road/Aloha Road, 4 miles S of 28 b/w Covington and Sidnaw
07/12/061/4 mile W of Baraga Plains Road on Mansfeldt Road
09/05/06Collins Road, 1/4 mile East of Townline Road, Avon Township. Screaming and visual observation.
09/09/06US-2 and FH16 South of Golden Lake
UnknownTom R's daugher in law sees cougar on shoulder of A-35 next to mailbox. Ran onto a pile of dirt and into thick trees where 6-8 rabbits scattered out of the woods
UnknownTom R's son sees cougar across apple orchard running full speed and then turned broad side and ran


Using information compiled by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, it was determined that approximately 50% of anecdotal reports (as listed below), can be classified as probable or verified.
Reports by the public, when carefully screened for reliability, and used in conjunction with other information and evidence, can aid in assessing population status.
Thank you to the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Retired DNR Forester Mike Zuidema, and the media for this valuable research information.




DENISE N. MASSEY