MICHIGAN CITIZENS for COUGAR RECOGNITION
BENZIE County Sightings



06/95Observed by Dave A.
08/15/99Deadstream Road, 1 mile W of Indian Hill Road toward Platte RiverPAIR
2000Crystal LakeKITTENS
2000Cake Township, Mother and two kittens observed in weeded areaKITTENS
2000M–22 and Dead Stream
2000M-22
2000Observed by William B. of Honor
06/15/01M-22 b/w Old Indian Trailhead and Loon Lake Parking Lot NE of the Manitou Restaurant
06/15/01M-22 within Sleeping Bear Dunes
02/02Observed by Nancy F. of Traverse City
04/02Observed by William B. of Honor
07/19/02Glen Arbor
08/02/02Indian Hill Road b/w Fowler Road and Esch Road
10/02Observed by Ed M. of Beulah
03/03Observed by Nancy F. of Traverse City
07/03Observed by Karen K. of Honor
07/04/032 miles S of M-115 on US 31 borderline of Manistee and Benzie Counties
07/15/03Karschney Road, E of Townline, Abbaye Peninsula, N of L'AnseBLACK
07/21/036 miles S of Frankfort on Berring Road heading E on M-22
08/01/03M22 near Cooper Road
09/03Observed by Eleanor C. of Frankfort
09/03Observed by Tom and Kathy S. of Honor
09/11/03Crossed M-115 (Cadillac Highway) at Kurick Road right at the Mt. View minimart/gas station
10/03Observed by Nancy V. of Frankfort
10/03Observed by Kyle O. of Traverse City
10/02/03M-22 and Platte, Neighbors saw mother and cubKITTENS
10/10/03Crystal Lake
12/21/03Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park Boekeloo Road
04/18/041 mile N of Frankfort just off M22BLACK
06/08/04Esch Road within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore boundaries
07/04Observed by Julia H. of Honor
11/03/041 1/2 mile N of Thomsponville
11/19/041 1/2 mile N of Thompsonville
02/18/052-3 miles outside Frankfort on River Road, 300' b/f Airport Road
05/25/05SE 1/4 of SE 1/4 Section 06, Deadstream Road
06/02/05US 31 about 3/4 mile S of M-115
08/05Cat crossing road near corner near Deadstream Road. Observed by driver and passenger. Ranger was supportive when reported.
08/10/05State Forest Campground on Platte River, 2 miles SE of Honor
04/19/06Platte Road ½ mile W of M-31, Wrestling/Screaming/Fighting, Hair SamplePAIR
08/02/061/4 mile S of M-31 behind small subdivision
09/22/06Crystal Mountain, Countyline Road
01//07Bounded across M-113 in front of motorist; Fife Lake
Early 05/07Near Traverse City; Jumped from top deck to bottom deck (10' vertical); Observer familiar with sightings from Montana
08/17/07Crossed the road on Graves Road in Frankfort about 1 mile down from Lobb
08/17/07Husband/wife hiking into White Pine Campground on the Platte Plains Trail from the Trailhead at Bass Lake Loop observe cougar running away from their Labrador Retriever. Neither dog or cougar was injured.
O6/17/10WOOD-TV Grand Rapids Chief Meteorologist Bill Steffen and his wife observe a cougar while taking the Otter Lake Loop Trail in Benzie County while hiking - just off Esche Road close to Lake Michigan
UnknownOff of US 131 just north of the Boyne Falls light


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