It’s a place not often associated with mountain lions, but this year, cougars in Michigan seem to be making their presence known. That’s according to new data released by the state’s Department of Natural Resources.
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So far, in 2025, there have been 21 confirmed sightings of cougars in Michigan. That’s down by just two compared to 2024, with two full months left to go. A decade ago, in 2015, there were only 15 confirmed sightings.
The recent increase has been cited by many local media outlets, as cougar sightings in recent years have been closer to two dozen, compared to just the teens a decade ago.
Still, wildlife officials aren’t too sure this means there’s a sustainable population.
“We’re not talking large numbers; we’re still talking individual cats. At this point, it’s just a novelty, and it’s neat that we have a large carnivore on the landscape,” said Brian Roell, a DNR large carnivore specialist, to local media.
Cougars in Michigan
Cougars were originally native to Michigan, but they were wiped out in the early 1900s. For many years, there were no sightings, or people mistook bobcats or other animals for cougars. This has been the case in many Midwest states.
However, in 2008, that changed when a cougar made its way into the state.
In March of this year, the first cougar cubs were verified in the state in more than a century. The cubs were found in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
“It’s pretty exciting, considering this could be the first known cougar reproduction in modern times in the western Great Lakes states,” said Roell in a press release.
Cougars are solitary animals and often stay in their own territory. Occasionally, they will leave to find a mate, which can bring them over long distances.
People have spotted cougars as far east as Connecticut.
We’ll have to see how the year continues with any more sightings of cougars in Michigan to understand how much the species is making a comeback.
