Wood Widow and Camp Inspector were visited by a cougar. Well, today I found out we have one in our neighborhood. I talked to 2 people who saw it 2 days ago only 3/4 mile from us. Also know of a man who got a picture on trail cam last winter of a cougar. No, we are not worried. Of course, just ask the DNR and they will tell you we have no cougar here.... But then, these are the same people who have claimed that for many years in MI only to have to eat their words later. Also, they said it could not happen in MI. Some folks while hunting during winter saw a wolverine (no, not someone from an Ann Arbor university). Couldn't be; none here for a couple hundred years even though MI used to be called the Wolverine State. Well, they got a picture of the animal and it was printed in a local newspaper. That wolverine is now property of the DNR and it is nicely mounted.
The DNR claimed there were no cougars in Wisconsin. Despite credible sightings. Then there were several captured on trail cams and one found in Milton Wisconsin, living in an abandoned barn. That car got chased by officials into a Chicago suburb and it was captured. I think shot to death by police in someone's backyard. I have seen them in Wisconsin well prior to that, and even got chased inside the cabin by one less than 10 years ago. They are dangerous, but typically won't go after an adult, especially a 250 lb man. This one was different, and eventually taken out by a neighbor with a .223.
We had a couple mountain lions while living in NW Colorado. One was walking across our neighbors deck and he though our blonde german shepard had found her way out of the yard. Nope. Very spooky indeed.
The DNR said there were no wolves in the lower peninsula, until one get hit by a car on US 23 near Rogers City.
I have seen a cougar, my wife has seen it and my son has seen it near our old place. Near the river, bluffs, plenty of small game to feed on. I remember the late fall morning, a few years ago, when I went outside and there had to be 40+ wild turkeys up in the trees. The leaves were off so I could see them. Drove down the driveway and crossing the road was a cougar, with something in its mouth heading toward the river. But, according to the DNR there are no cougars in Minnesota. Imagine the affect on the attendance in the State Parks if they admitted that there were cougars?
And our DNR has traced some dna from cougars here and say they came from SD!! That is a long travel. Surely they could have came through your state and some stayed.
Wow Dennis, that is a long way for anyone to travel. It would be interesting to put tracking collars on them. The big question is how did they cross the big pond Lake Michigan. Unless, they came thru the UP and crossed at Mackinaw.
