First cougar cubs discovered in Michigan in more than a century

What's happening: Two cougar cubs have been spotted in Ontonagon County, according to biologists from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The sighting marks the first time in more than 100 years that cougar cubs have been discovered living in the wild in Michigan. The cubs were found on private land in early March and are believed to be seven-to-nine-weeks old, based on photographs submitted to DNR. The pair was also photographed with their mother, which is a good sign because cubs are dependent on their mother for the first two years of their lives. 

Returning species: While cougars are native to Michigan, it's rare to hear reports of them in the wild. Most of the time, sightings of male adult cougars occur when they're expanding their hunting grounds in the Western Upper Peninsula. Many predator species are beginning to see a resurgence in the U.P., including wolves, coyotes and bears. They're being spotted more frequently on trail cameras and through the DNR’s Eyes in the Field reporting system.    

What they're saying: “It’s pretty exciting, considering this could be the first known cougar reproduction in modern times in the western Great Lakes states,” said Brian Roell, large carnivore specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “It really shows that we have a unique place in Michigan where someone has a chance to see a wolf, a moose and a cougar in the wild. It’s something that should be celebrated, that we have the habitat to support an elusive animal like this.”

What's next: The cubs will have to survive in the wild, which is full of dangers and pitfalls. Some legal restrictions are in place to help the cubs out because cougars are an endangered animal. It is illegal to hunt or trap the animal; it's also illegal to search out their dens. Private property rights can also help these cubs mature into adults, as that could limit who the animals interact with.