What big cats are in Michigan?
While there aren’t many wild cats in Michigan, there are two confirmed species that the DNR has found evidence for….There is potential for a third wild cat species residing there, but it hasn’t been confirmed.
- Canada Lynx. Image Credit: Felineus, Shuttrstock.
- Bobcat. Image Credit: Pixabay.
- Cougars. Image Credit: Piqsels.
What kind of wild cats do we have in Michigan?
The origin of the common name is undoubtedly the cat’s stubby, bobbed tail. Other monikers around the U.S. include red lynx, bay lynx, bobtailed cat, and wildcat. Of the three wild cat species found in Michigan – the others being cougars and Canada lynx – bobcats are by far the most common.
How many cougars are in Michigan?
74
This latest confirmation brings the total number of confirmed cougar reports to 74 in Michigan since 2008. That number however, does not necessarily translate to the same number of cougars because a single animal may be included in more than one confirmed report.
Are there lynx in Michigan?
That’s because the Canada Lynx is classified as a threatened species in Michigan with very few reported sighting over the last 40 years. Of these, most occurred in the Upper peninsula. In March of 2019 near Howell, MI the DNR actually live captured a lynx.
How big is a Michigan cougar?
about 5-6 feet long
The cougar typically weighs between 90 and 180 lbs, with a few large males topping 200 lbs. Cougars are tan to brown. Adult cougars have a body length about 5-6 feet long from nose to base of tail. The tail is long and thick with a black tip.
Are there cougar in Michigan?
Of the 75 confirmed cougar sightings in Michigan, 74 have occurred in the Upper Peninsula. Only one confirmed cougar sighting has happened in the Lower Peninsula, in Clinton County’s Bath Township, about 20 miles northeast of Lansing, in 2017, where a resident photographed the big cat as it crossed a road.
Does Michigan have mountain lions?
Michigan mountain lion sightings have increased greatly in the past 3 years. While mountain lions are native to Michigan, their numbers diminished to almost zero by the 1900s. The animals are protected by state law as an endangered species.
Are there mountain lions in Michigan?
While mountain lions are native to Michigan, their numbers diminished to almost zero by the 1900s. The animals are protected by state law as an endangered species.
How big are Michigan bobcats?
2 to 3.5 feet long
Bobcats are smaller than cougars but larger than domestic cats, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Their bodies range from 2 to 3.5 feet long, their tails are about 6 inches long and they weigh up to 40 pounds.
Are there wild lions in Michigan?
Michigan has a small population of cougars or mountain lions. The majestic big cats roam the entire state, they are occasionally seen in cities and the suburbs.
Does Michigan have Pumas?
Cougar sightings are on the rise in Michigan. Confirmed sightings of the animal, also known as a puma or mountain lion, hit double digits for the first time in 2019, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources recorded more sightings in the last three years than it did in the 10 years prior.
Are there panthers in Michigan?
Reports of “black panther” sightings have been… We are not talking about a radical self defense club but rather a large feline. Reports of “black panther” sightings have been trickling in since 1984 all over Michigan.