Michigan
Cougars were originally native to Michigan, but were extirpated from Michigan around the turn of the century. The last known wild cougar taken in the State occurred in 1906 near Newberry. There have been periodic reports of cougar sightings since that time.
Over the past few years, numerous cougar sighting reports have been received from various locations in Michigan. According to the Michigan DNR this situation is not unique to Michigan, but has been occurring in many other mid-western and eastern states as well.
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Senators
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Carl Levin (D)
269 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6221
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Debbie Stabenow (D)
133 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4822
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Congressmen
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Bill Huizenga (R)
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Candice Miller (R)
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Dan Benishek (R)
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Dan Kildee (D)
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Dave Camp (R)
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Dead Cougar Found on Michigan Road Had Been Snared
• The Cougar FundInitial examinations of a dead cougar found ditched on the side of a Michigan road have revealed that the cat had been caught in a neck snare.
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Support Grand Teton National Park’s Preferred Alternative for Moose-Wilson
• The Cougar Fund -
Cougars Working Their Way Back Into Midwest
• The Cougar Fund -
Confirmed mountain lion sighting in Michigan’s UP (video)
• The Cougar Fund -
Could this possibly be in the future?
• The Cougar FundAt least one cougar expert believes the cat could someday recolonize the northeast United States.
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Support for the protection of wolves is increasing
• The Cougar FundA federal court order has suspended Wisconsin's wolf hunt.
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Experts: Cougars Could Return to Northeast
• The Cougar FundMany biologists agree that the northeast US possesses large tracts of suitable habitat for the cats. Now, some believe that recent long-distance dispersals suggest cougars are capable of recolonizing northeastern states they have long been extirpated from.
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Habitat Capacity for Cougar Recolonization in the Upper Great Lakes Region
• The Cougar FundO'Neil, Rahn, and Bump (2014)
Background: Recent findings indicate that cougars (Puma concolor) are expanding their range into the midwestern United
States. Confirmed reports of cougar in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have increased dramatically in frequency during the last five years, leading to speculation that cougars may re-establish in the Upper Great Lakes (UGL) region, USA. Recent work showed favorable cougar habitat in northeastern Minnesota, suggesting that the northern forested regions of Michigan and Wisconsin may have similar potential. Recolonization of cougars in the UGL states would have important
ecological, social, and political impacts that will require effective management. -
Proceedings of the 11th Mountain Lion Workshop
• The Cougar FundProceedings of the 11th Mountain Lion Workshop
Integrating Scientific Findings into Management
Hunter Conference Center, Southern Utah University
Cedar City, Utah
May 12‐15, 2014 -
Integrating Values and Ethics into Wildlife Policy and Management—Lessons from North America
• The Cougar FundFox and Bekoff (2011)
Abstract: Few animals provoke as wide a range of emotions as wolves. Some see wolves as icons of a lost wilderness; others see them as intruders. As the battle continues between wolf proponents and opponents, finding solutions that resolve conflicts while supporting the integrity of nature is challenging. In this essay we argue that we need to make room for wolves and other native carnivores who are re-colonizing areas from which they were extirpated. Strategies that foster coexistence are necessary and wildlife agencies must consider all stakeholders and invest adequate resources to inform the public about how to mitigate conflicts between people/domestic animals, and predators. Values and ethics must be woven into wildlife policy and management and we must be willing to ask difficult ethical questions and learn from past mistakes.