Mountain lions

[born2hunt65]

How many of you have actually seen a mountain lion in Michigan? I've seen a black one twice in the last three years while running bear baits. Perhaps it was the same one. I've heard of other people seeing these black cats 40 miles from here also. I'm not sure how much country they cover. I could not believe how big those cats really are. We asked the DNR about them and they told us that they do not exsist in Michigan. Well I have to argue the point they DO TOO. We asked what would happen to the guy who shot one mistaking it for a bear (like anyone couldn't tell this difference). The DNR replied I would hate to be that guy. I've also seen their tracks by my bait stations. They were too big for any of the cats that the DNR says are here and they were not bear or wolf tracks (if you know your tracks). I guess I would like to know why the DNR tries to tell people animals don't exsist when you have seen them yourself. Do they think you will believe what they tell you over what you witness? Anyway who has seen them, I have. Born

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If it's brown it's down. If it flies it dies.

[Allen Glore]

What I don't understand is, why should anybody be sorry if they shot one, they don't exsist as far as the State of Michigan is concerned.

How can they prosecute for something that does not exsist? If they can, they then do exsist.

Is there anything in the Michigan Hunting regulations that states if there is not a season listed for a certain species, it is than illegal to shoot that species.



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AlleninAlaska

[born2hunt65]

Hi Allen,
My hubby had a talk with the DNR here and they told him it did not matter that you would be ticketed for shooting that cat. As far as I know there is nothing in the regulation books regarding these cats but who knows what is in the DNR regulation book at their office. Their reg book I'm sure is alot more detailed than the ones we get over the counter. They know they are here but the reason behind not acknowledging them only the DNR knows. Anyone who has the answer I would sure appreciate being enlightened by it. I think I am going to research this a little further and see if I can come up with some answers. Born

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If it's brown it's down. If it flies it dies.

[born2hunt65]

From what I found out so far mountain lions in-habit the western United States. The literature I've read states the cats we have here were live trapped by animal rights people illegally and released here. These cats were released in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The literature also states that the cats usually are releaesd alone. If that is true why do these people do such things? They put us down for hunting yet they would take an animal out of its natural habitate and release it somewhere where it may not survive due to poor food sources, no mate, and an enviroment that may not be compatable to that cat. Unfortunitly from what I am to understand the UP is a good enviroment for these cats to survive in. These cats are at home in the hardwoods and swamps in which we have many. Firther more they will prey on a small lone human if need be. I'd be interested to hear anything else about thse cats. Born

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If it's brown it's down. If it flies it dies.

[msiebers]

I dont mean to say your source for the origin of Mi. Mountain Lions is wrong, but Im curious when it says they were supposed to have been released. Sighting's have ocurred since the 60's as far as I can tell(maybe earlier), and not just black cats either. The Old Tan variety has been seen on the eastern shore near Munuscong bay and I believe near manistique as well.

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Mike

[JAM]

In June, 1985, I brought a brand new Bronco II, and exactly 1 week later I hit a deer on my way to work, traveling from Gladstone to Iron Mountain on US2&41. The highway was under construction at that time, so I had to detour on to M69 for a short distance. I was already upset from hitting the deer, when this big "bobcat" with a long tail ran in front of me. I described the "bobcat" to coworkers, and they informed me it must have been a mountain lion. (It was tan). I remember the date so well because of my new car being damaged. I've never seen one since, though.

[birddog]

In the past 8 years I have seen 3 different cats in diferent locations.Of them 2 where black and one tan.I have heard of other people seeing them to.Some say they have seen them up to 15 years ago.Last year a guy from Bessemer Mi. here in the U.P. said he had been seeing a tan one a couple times of week cross in the field behind his house for most of the summer.Reports of that same cat have been heard of.

[Curdog]

I have a friend who is a real level headed guy. Not the sort to look for attention at all. Well, one night, his dog was looking out his back sliding door and just goung nuts. He turned on his yard light, but could see nothing.

The next morning, he went out and found a set of tracks that led from the woods to his barn, and then cyt across the corner of his soybeans toward the woods again. He got out a track ID book, and sure enough, they keyed out to be adult mountain lion tracks.

He called up his dad to take a look. His dad is a hard headed old farmer, not given to foolishness. My friend didn't say anything about what he thought the tracks might be, he just handed his dad the track book, who also stopped at the page with the puma tracks.

He kept his mouth shut, but the local news reported that someone from a small town that's 5 or 6 miles northeast of him had claimed to see a mountain lion the night before his dog freaked out.

This was in the lower peninsula, about 20 miles from Flint. He never saw the cat, and he didn't run around to the news people, but he's keeping his eyes open.

[born2hunt65]

MSIEBEBERS, Thanks for the info on the cats. I didn't realize sightings went back to the 60's. The little I was able to find out came from one of my tracking books I use. I'm sure glad people have replied to the cat topic. It sure is interesting to learn how long these cats have actually been here and how many people have actually seen them.

[Lance]

Curdog, any chance you're talking about the cat sightings around Lapeer? I lived there in the mid 70's and there was about a two year period when they had a rash of sightings out southeast of town.

[This message has been edited by Lance (edited 05-03-2000).]

[msiebers]

born2hunt65,
If you look in the Woods-n-Waters news magazine, you will see almost monthly updates of cat sightings in there. I have been following this topic for awhile now and I am really surprised at not only the frequency, but also the large difference in locations acrrossed the UP.
My friend and I were disscussing this last night, after I read your first post. He told me his brother had a Mt. Lion walk under him durring last falls bow season.
He was up in a tree stand and nearly fell out when he recognised what it was.
I believe he was near the fence river hunting at the time.

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Mike

[born2hunt65]

Mike thanks alot for the tip on woods-n-water. My hubby gets that mag but I never seen the cat tips in there. I'll have to look a little closer I guess.

[Curdog]

Actually, Lance, this was near Flushing. Just north of M-21.

[Bob S]

Lance,
What you are referring to near Lapeer may have been bear sightings. I seem to remember that their were several bear sightings in that area at one time. The DNR said it was something like a young male had wandered too far South out of his normal range, became lost and could not find his way back North.

[Lance]

Granted it's been awhile but I think the reports were "big tan cat" types of things. I do know the local CO, deputies and State Police put in alot of overtime one summer trying to find it.

[WEEZER]

I believe I saw one too! I was fishing the Hex hatch last June on the South Branch of the Ausable. A buddy and I Were packing are stuff away when a "Critter" walked across the road and straight towards us. This animal was not a bobcat and Not a household cat and scared the crap out of me. It wasn't an adult Lion it was a little larger than a Bobcat with a long tail. What else could this animal be?
~Rick

[born2hunt65]

Those cats are a little intimidating to say the least. The one I saw was jet black and a full grown cat. It was near a bear bait that I have to walk in on. It was early in the baiting season so I had a bucket full of meat. We had seen it's tracks by the bait so I was a little nerving that day knowing that cat was so close. That cat from nose to the tip of it's tail covered the width of the dirt road I was on. I was about 10 yards away from it when I seen it but I was glad I was in the truck. Anyway it was a beautiful animal just hope I never see it face to face,lol.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Born2hunt,
About 6-8 years ago there were sightings of a large black cat some where in the area of Canton/South Lyon (if I am not mistaken). Every so often the cat would pop up, and someone would see it, and it would make the evening news. The DNR said that it wasn't a cat, blah, blah, blah....then someone videotaped it. The videotape was kind of fuzzy, but you could tell it wasn't a bear, labrador retriever, ect. The DNR changed its position, saying it was a pet that had either gotten loose or was turned loose when it got too big. Either way, there hasn't been any sightings recently. On a similar note, a mountain lion was confiscated in the city here about 3-4 years ago...seems some drug dealer was using it to protect his "investment". I beleive that animal ended up going to a zoo or animal rehab facility out of state. Interesting topic!

[boehr]

I get reports of cats every year at the office in Southwest Michigan. We will have one or two reports within a couple of days then nothing, like it disappears. We will have 2 to 4 of these types of reports every year. I have no doubt that some people have seen these cats but I also have no doubt that these cats (and I am talking southwestern Michigan now) are cats from the wild. The State of Indiana has, at least in the past, given some permits to people to have these cats and we are very close to Indiana and we have a lot of folks that come into Michigan to their cottages etc., especially in the summer. So that is basically my take on cats in southern Michigan.

[This message has been edited by boehr (edited 05-14-2000).]

[born2hunt65]

Boehr, With the reports you recieve, do you investigate them? Have you ever live trapped any cats and if so what do you do with them. From what I have read on these cats they like secluded areas and it's rare to see them. I feel priv to have actually seen them twice now. Do you have any idea how much area they use as their territory? I know the black cat here has been sighted as far as 40 miles from here if it's the same cat.
Anyway thanks everyone for your input, I find these cats extremly interesting and it's neat to read about them

[msiebers]

In this months Woods & Waters news,(pg. 40) Richard P. Smith details a rumourd report of a Mountain Lion Hit by a car near Iron Mt.
It turns out the couger was only "seen" not hit, as it crossed the road in front of the wispering pines outpost.

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Mike

[Tim Baker]

I have a second hand sighting. I use to deer hunt in Menominee county in the southern UP. The guy that owned the camp works for the county road commission so he has spent many hours driving the roads. He saw a black cat cross the road in front of him one night during a lite snow fall. It didn’t run across the road it walked so he got a real good look at it and he said there is no doubt that it was a cougar. He actually had to stop his truck to keep from hitting it. He reported it to the state police but they just dismissed it as a pet that had gotten loose from its owner. This was in the early to mid 80’s.

Tim