MICHIGAN CITIZENS for COUGAR RECOGNITIONST. JOSEPH County Sightings

1/23/1875	South of Three Oaks and creating a sensation
1969	Two black cats chasing deer, Sturgis	BLACK, PAIR
1999	Black cat near White Pigeon	BLACK
10/20/02	County Line Road at Corey Lake Road near Camp Eberheart
05/03	Observed by Carrol K. of Sturgis
10/04/03	S and W of Three Rivers off US60 and Youngs Prairie Road by the old railroad grade, Attacked a deer and observed by hunters from a tree stand	BLACK
12/05	Observed by John K. of Constantine
2006	Tracks behind house in Mendon
07/06	Observed by Garth K. of Constantine
06/06/06	Null and River Road, Three Rivers
06/15/06	Off Baer Road and WakemanRoad
07/06	Observed by Garth K. of Constantine
07/30/06	½ mile E of US-131 on Cotherman Lake Road on private airstrip
08/29/06	½ mile from Route 60, Pony has claw marks
Fall, 2006	Constantine Area; Rob R. and family observed cougars near Three Rivers State Game area over 10 times in the last 11 years; Observed mother an kittens in Fall	Kittens
12/05/07	Lutz Road by Sauganash Golf Course sitting alongside the road
06/22/08	Heimbach Road. 6:30 a.m. Cougar crossed in front of vehicle. Stalking something because it jumped straight up like a kangaroo and pounced on something

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