ONTONAGON COUNTY (WWJ) -- The mystery surrounding two cougar kittens spotted earlier this year has been solved.
The pair were first documented in early March in Michigan's Upper Peninsula’s Ontonagon County. State DNR officials estimated they were about two months old. Concerns about their survival were raised when the mother was nowhere in sight.
A photo taken on Dec. 6 from the same area shows an adult cougar with two juveniles. They’re estimated to be about one year old. The trail camera photo was submitted by a private landowner on Sunday. The DNR verified the site pictured on Monday and the number of cougars on Tuesday.
Genetic testing of cougars in Michigan have only confirmed the existence of adult males. The DNR said this is one of the first instances of cougar reproduction outside of the western states.
“This is a historic confirmation for Michigan since it is the first time in over 100 years that verified cougar reproduction has occurred east of the Mississippi River and possibly even east of the Missouri River,” Brian Roell, the DNR’s carnivore specialist, said.
The sex of the kittens is unknown at this time.
Cougar kittens typically stay with their mom for about two years.
“The kittens’ chances of survival are actually pretty high because just like bears, cougars invest a lot of their energy into their young,” Roell said. “So these kittens will stay with their mom through this winter and possibly even into the next winter. They already have a leg up, seeing as how they’ve been with her for a year now.”
The DNR operates more than 1,300 trail cameras in the U.P. to study wildlife. Roell said he was surprised the pair weren’t caught on any other cameras since March.
“The interesting thing is, where were they for nine months?” he said. “That’s a mystery.”
Cougars were hunted out of the state by the early 1900s. The DNR has confirmed about 168 cougar sightings since 2008. All confirmed sightings have been in the U.P. Roell said most sightings are of the same animal being reported by different people.
Sightings have increased since 2019. He said the number of trail cameras have also increased. More cougars are being reported in other areas, including Nebraska. The animals are solitary and need large territories, so they typically have low population densities.
“This isn’t an animal that is ever going to become very numerous,” Roell said. “They’re going to remain rare on the landscape regardless of whatever happens with them here in Michigan.”
Cougars are endangered in Michigan, meaning it’s illegal to hunt or harass them. This protection includes trying to find their den, regardless of whether it’s on public or private property.
“Too much human pressure can also trigger the female cougar to abandon her cubs,” Roell said. “As with all wild animals, we’re asking the public to respect their habitat and allow them to live naturally in their home.”
The DNR has a cougar dashboard and photo page for those who want more information.