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Cougar caught on trail cam in southern U.P.


A cougar captured in southern Dickinson County, Mich., on Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo courtesy Michigan DNR)
A cougar captured in southern Dickinson County, Mich., on Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo courtesy Michigan DNR)
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DICKINSON COUNTY, Mich. (WLUK) -- A cougar moving through the southern part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula was caught on a trail camera recently.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the mountain lion showed up on a trail camera image taken Sept. 16. The big cat was walking through a semi-open area of firs and poplars in southern Dickinson County.

Dickinson County is along the Wisconsin border. Iron Mountain and Kingsford are both located within Dickinson County.


The DNR says the image was taken about 50 miles from where a cougar turned up on video July 20 in Baraga County.

There have been 74 confirmed cougar reports in Michigan since 2008, including 10 this year in the U.P. Some of those reports could have been the same animal seen multiple times. Experts say increased use of trail cameras could be leading to more sightings.

What kinds of animals have walked past your trail cam? Share a photo or video with us here:



According to the DNR, genetic research shows the cougars seen in the U.P. came from states west of Michigan. The DNR does not have any evidence to indicate there is a breeding population of cougars in the U.P.

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