Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
A trail camera captured this photo of a cougar near Marinette during the early morning hours of Friday, August 23rd. The photo has been shared online as having been taken in other locations in the state, but an investigation by DNR staff confirmed the sighting in Marinette County. This is the fourth confirmed cougar in Wisconsin in 2019, following a record 37 confirmed sightings in 2018.
Cougars have returned to Wisconsin after a 100-year hiatus. The first confirmed cougar sighting in the state during recent times occurred in 2008, and the number of sightings has since increased.
From Wisconsin, the nearest established breeding population of cougars is in the Black Hills of western South Dakota. It’s believed that cougar sightings in Wisconsin and other midwestern states are males leaving that area in search of their own territory. While on these journeys, cougars can cover a lot of distance.
Fewer female cougars move away from their birthplace and those that do tend to travel shorter distances.
As of today, there is no known evidence to support the fact that a breeding cougar population may exist in Wisconsin. The likelihood of cougars becoming established soon is low, given the limited female dispersal from western populations.
You can learn more about cougars in Wisconsin (and how your sighting reports can help us track their movement) at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/cougar.html
