MICHIGAN CITIZENS for COUGAR RECOGNITIONONTONAGON County Sightings

1914	Ontonagon Area, Reported by L'Anse Sentinel, 5/15/91
10/57	Bruce Crossing
1967	M38 and Firesteel River
1967	107 Porcupine Mt. State Park
1970	Porcupine Mountains. Assistant Park Manager finds tracks in clay in hiking trail
11/16/76	8 miles N of Bruce Crossing
1976	Military Hill, Ontonagon
07/76	Paulding
1978	Bergland near Holiday Mt. K, Small cougar with mottled spots
04/78	Lake Gogebic
11/17/90	East of Bruce Crossing; Observed by Ron Howell
1997	Porcupine Mountains - Deer carcass found in a tree
11/99	Observed by Lon K.
09/00	Cougar observed eating a fresh button buck whitetail deer for about 10 minutes near the Firesteel River in Greenland Township
10/01	Observed by Daryl M. of Marquette
08/02	Observed cougar in Porcupine Mountains while on a mountain bike on a closed trail just after crossing a bridge over the Iron River
06/03	Simar Airport Road; Observed by Janet Holmstrom
07/03	M-38 near Firesteel River; Observed by Janet Holmstrom
08/01/04	2 miles N of North Country Trail (Kun de Kun Fall Trail) on Highway 45
08/22/05	M38, Simar, Wasas Road
09/18/05	S of White Pine b/w White Pine and Silver City

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