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Michigan Cougar Watch: Escaped Pets or Wild Population?

The Dowagiac Daily News continues its coverage of Michigan cougars with a report on whether or not wild cougars inhabit Michigan or whether they're a few former illegal pets. DNR wildlife biologist Dave Bostick is quoted as saying: "...we think there's only a handful of cougars in Michigan and, at least in this part of the state we think most of them are escaped cats." A statement from the Michigan Nature Conservancy was read that "The reality is that the DNR prematurely declared the cougar expatriated from our state by the early 1900s ... the DNR has ignored eyewitnesses, scientific studies, videotapes, still photos and requests for assistance from citizens and law enforcement agencies and animal control officers."

The article also reports that nationwide, cougars have been responsible for 20 deaths since 1900 (domestic dogs cause 20 deaths every year) and gives tips for fending off a cougar attack.

Read Wild cougars' presence in Berrien disputed in the Dowagiac Daily News

Posted/updated Jan 25, 2006
by Andrew McFarlane (Absolute Michigan)