MICHIGAN CITIZENS for COUGAR RECOGNITION
OTSEGO County Sightings



01/02Observed by Tony W.
01/29/02Mancelona Road/Lynn Lake Road
02/02Observed by Charles S.
2/18/02T31NR04W18
08/15/02 East side of two-track road; north from the Sturgeon Valley Road up a small valley; GPS location 16T0697762,5004076
10/25/021 mile W of Vienna on M-32
07/03/03T29NR03W17
09/05/03S off Old State Road, just W of County Line
09/09/03W shore of Bradford Lake near the N end
03/25/05Behind house, under powerlineBLACK
03/25/05West Otsego Lake Drive to old Alba to Pine Grove to Niki Lane, Near Pine Baron Cross-Country Ski Trail, Tracks
09/19/05West M-32, 5 Miles W of Johannesburg
11/09/05Morgan Road off N Ohio, 2 ½ miles from Gaylord, Dragging a deer
11/09/05Morgan Road, 4 miles N of Gaylord, Crossing road with a deer
05/24/06Dodge Lake Road, Photo
07/31/06Fairview and N Ohio on 5 Lake Road across from Fairview Cemetary
06/08Observed by Don K. of Burton
06/08Observed by Don K. of Burton three days after first sighting. Observed around 6 p.m. in Wildnerness Valley in white pine/gully area about 3 miles from Antrim County line. Observed to be reddish color and long tail at 200 yards
10/14/08Observed young adult cougar almost hit by two trucks on rural county road
10/18/08Cougar observed 6 miles north of Waters, 2 miles off Old 27. Michaywe Drive, south side of road


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