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| For years, Michigan residents in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas have observed cougars. While the big cats were originally thought extirpated in the early 1900s, author of "Beast of Never, Cat of God" Bob Butz, states that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources did not stop paying bounties for Michigan cougars until 1967. |
| The Michigan Wildlife Conservancy was the first concerted effort to research Michigan's cougars, spending hundreds of dollars for research, education, and recognition efforts. Citizens like Pam Benson, Manistee, and Dennis Payne, Rothbury, keep track of Michigan cougars. Ms. Benson posted a map at the Kaleva Hardware store and Dennis Payne posts a map at the Express Feed Store for people to mark sightings. Retired DNR Forester Mike Zuidema has collected reports of 975+ cougars in the Upper Pensinsula since 1981. |
| Even the DNR thinks Michigan has cougars. DNR Director Rebecca Humphries stated in February, 2005, to Woods-n-Water News, "We have been portrayed as not believing they are in the state. We do. We have a sighting log we keep and we encourage people to contribute to it, so clearly we believe there are cougars being sighted in Michigan. What we'd like to do is confirm there is a breeding population in Michigan, and we just haven't been able to do so. For years, there had been reports of cougars sightings in individual files of biologists in the field." But, the DNR is waiting for evidence of a breeding population in Michigan. |
 MICHIGAN COUNTIES WITH CONFIRMED COUGARS |
| MICHIGAN SIGHTINGS |
| DETECTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF COUGARS IN MICHIGAN USING LOW COPY DNA SOURCES by Bradley Swanson and Patrick J. Rusz |
 ALCONA COUNTY CAT |
| 08/27/05 ALLEGAN COUNTY TRAIL CAM PHOTOS |
| MENOMINEE, 1984/BONE FRAGMENTS |
| ESCANABA CAR ACCIDENT/HAIR DNA |
| FLORENCE, WISCONSIN TRAILCAM, 10/06 |
| MONROE COUNTY VIDEO |
 Watch the Video |
| SLEEPING BEAR DUNES |
| SLEEPING BEAR DUNES |
| MARCH 15, 2005 STERLING HEIGHTS POLICE FILM FOOTAGE OF YOUNG COUGAR |
| DNR POSITION - 6/22/06 |
 1998 DNR E-Mail |
| 1998 Robinson Memo |
| Southwest Michigan Policy - January, 2006 |
| SIGHTINGS IN OTHER EASTERN STATES |
| Selma, Alabama, Black Cougar Video Stalking Deer |
| Defenders of Wildlife Article on Cougars Heading West to East |
| Illinois Sightings |
| Maryland, Virginia, Missouri
Photos |
| Missouri Article |
| Mississippi Video |
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THESE ARE NOT ESCAPED PETS | HOW TO COLLECT EVIDENCE |
