Originally Posted by
spaniel
http://www.miwildlife.org/c_ai_education.asp
DNA evidence of cougars in seven MI counties. Do they need to walk up and purr in your lap to believe it's at least possible?
Cougars are secretive, solitary predators and rarely seen when they don't want to be. They are undoubtedly a LOT more common out West yet I know people that live and hunt out there that have gone 30 years without seeing one that had not been first treed by dogs.
I'm not sure why the idea that cougars may be moving east is received with such hostility by individuals who have no proof that they haven't, either. Either way, I had one in my backyard only 40 miles north of Toledo in suburban Detroit when I backed up on an undeveloped area, spotted in the same timeframe as a number of sightings by others. The officer who responded to my call told me that the DNR had set up several traps in the area in an attempt to capture it. As a trained biologist who spotted the animal from less than 50 feet and observed it for a good couple minutes, I'll respectfully chuckle at the internet doubters.
It's possible,just very highly unlikely.We had a moose cross the Pa border from new England one time.Thing is,it was confirmed and someone ended up killing it just over the border in NY
I've hunted out west myself.I've never seen a cat but have seen tracks.The guides I hunted with lived in those areas their entire lives and between 3 of them,only ever saw one.They are secretive.Why is that thousand of sightings are reported in Pa,many of which are black?I'll tell you why,people see what they want to see.They see these cats all the time but never any confirmed sign.
Unless your a biologist working with mountain lions,your observations are no more valid than anyone elses's.I have to respectfully chuckle at what you think you saw.