9&10 News: DNR: Pic of Alleged Cougar is Actually a Kitty Cat

DNR: Pic of Alleged Cougar is Actually a Kitty Cat
Posted: 9/25/2009

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We have an update to pass along on a story we reported Thursday on our newscast about a private conservancy group claiming it had confirmed the sighting of a cougar in Leelanau County.

Friday, the Department of Natural Resources spoke out and adamantly denies the claim.

A team of state conservation officers and biologists spent hours investigating the alleged sighting and says this so called "cougar" is actually a harmless house cat.

"We would absolutely notify people if there were cougars in this area," says Sgt. Michael Borkovich, who works with the DNR in Leelanau County.

Borkovich says the department has been bombarded with phone calls ever since talk of a cougar sighting began a couple weeks ago.

To make matters worse, this was around the same time an e-mail with several pictures was being sent around in the area that claimed a Mesick business owner had shot a cougar in Wexford County.

The DNR found out that was a practical joke.

The cougar in the pictures was actually shot in New Mexico earlier this year.

"We have literally received hundreds of phone calls at our Cadillac district office, our local field offices, and especially here at our TC field office of people who are concerned the fact that they think cougars are out there," he says.

Although the DNR has done a thorough analysis to refute the claim of a sighting in Leelanau County, the private conservancy group is still not convinced.

"I still feel strongly it's a cougar," says Patrick Rusz, Director of Wildlife Programs for the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy. "I used an analysis method that's tried and true... And I see an animal that looks much bigger than a house cat, and I stand by my analysis."

The state experts disagree, and say they're frustrated with the concern and fear this situation has created.

They say there's nothing to be concerned about.

9&10's Ryan Raiche and Photojournalist Josh Strand have more on the alleged sighting.

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11/12/2009 - cougar story

Posted By: trev (gobles) | Hide
It was arround winter time last year .i was walking down my unplowed drive way and noticed these large paw prints in the snow. they were pretty big. i remember seeing how the paw prints were so spread appart. i went an told my dad and saw them said he never seen anything like it. i live on a back side of swamp and plenty of unroamed woods.THE STORY. it was dark.the woods was about fifty feet away from where me and my friend. he was is the camper and i was outside doin my business when i noticed this big grayish spot move. (i could see a little sice the light shined in the back) i yelled 4 my friend to come out an he brought his dog out. i sad. what the hill is that. he said i dont know. so we decided to walk towards it and it didnt move by this time we decided to back up. i went to find a flashlight tried it didnt work. went back in got another 1 .worked i shined it on it s eyes and it stood their staring at us with goldish maybe yellow eyes. they almost looked floresent. an we stood their starring at it for sometime . i know what i mi saw at least a reali i will be looking for it again every day i want to set a night camera up an record. i really wanna know what it was. and dont rujrsay a house cat.
10/20/2009 - Almost hit one tonight

Posted By: Rachel (Mt. Pleasant) | Hide
west of mt. pleasant at the intersection of Blanchard Rd. and Nottawa Rd. around 9:30 pm. a cougar ran into the road and darted back as we slammed on the breaks.
10/2/2009 - about that so called cougar

Posted By: bridgite (millersburg) | Hide
Ok so he said it was a cogar. But how can you tell. That picture is so blurry. It almost looks like those pictures of what is so called "big foot" I mean i can tell its a cat. But wouldn't it be easier to tell what it is if it wasnt so blurry.
9/30/2009 - cougar

Posted By: bruce (muskegon) | Hide
i agree with alot of people on here about the DNR! i wouldnt trust there word! ive delt with them before riding dirtbikes and snowmobiles they are just out to ticket people for anything they can and take money anyway from us tax payers! i know i saw a cougar i dont care what they say! the DNR in michigan do a poor job if you ask me!
9/30/2009 - cougar

Posted By: bruce (muskegon) | Hide
just wanted to say back in august i saw a large cat around 80lbs or more cross the road about 50yards infront of us so i got a very good look at it! it was on deadstream rd about 2 miles west of indian hill rd in honor/benzie county would be the southeast corner of little platte lake area east of the deadstream where it crosses under deadstream rd! at first glance i thought it was a coyote or deer? but as he trotted in the woods i slowed down and seen he had a long tail and was muscular built! he crossed the road from the north goin south on a deer trail! it was bigger than a bobcat and looked like a small female lion? im posative it was a cougar! if i would of hit and killed it then people would believe they are around!
9/29/2009 - Cougar's R here

Posted By: Remus (Isabella County) | Hide
A few year's back..friends of the family had there horse attached by a large cat...so what was that a "house cat"?? A very well liked and trusted vet here in Isabella county took care of the horse and he seen the claw marks and wounds this animal left on the horse and even HE agreed that it was a large cat...just admit they are here and maybe people won't be so alarmed about this!!
9/28/2009 - huh!!!!!!!

Posted By: robbie (kalkaska) | Hide
ahh that would be one big dang cat!!!!!it would be the size of a lab
9/28/2009 - They move fast!

Posted By: S () | Hide
I had seen something that resembled a cougar or "mountain lion" a couple years ago in the EUP. I never mentioned it to anyone because I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me! This was, from a distance, a very large feline with a very long tail. I thought it was a bear at first until I watched it run and saw the long tail. It crossed the road in three bounds and disappeared. There is something larger than a bobcat prowling. I'm not an expert. I guess we pay the DNR to figure these things out.
9/28/2009 - mr

Posted By: kevin (farwell) | Hide
so if there are no cougars in michigan and house cats have no legal standing then the next time we see one we can just shoot it and then it won't be a danger to anyone
9/28/2009 - Why Not Report???

Posted By: Citizen & Sportsman (Benzie Co) | Hide
I think this is a funny topic. So many sighting, so few reportings. Having spent MUCH time in the woods of Northern Michigan I can say that I have never seen a cougar or anything that resembled a cougar... Bob Cats, Bears, Coyotes...yes, yes, yes But... I'll tell you one thing... If I DID see one, I would call the DNR, stay at the spot, find the tracks and collect/document enough information that I wouldn't need a picture of my housecat or a cougar in New Mexico to try to stake my claim. "I didn't report it because no one would believe me." Give me a break. Keep your mouth shut now then too!
9/28/2009 - Cougar

Posted By: Gramma (Big Rapids) | Hide
The DNR has been denying they exist here for years. Many of us have seen them and reported them in the Central Michigan area, only to be told they are bobcats. We know what cougars and have seen both adults and young. The first one I saw was 18 years ago on Chippewa Lake Road, 1 mile east of the Stone Hill Vet's office. They are here to stay, deal with it DNR, before someone get hurt.
9/27/2009 - Mrs.

Posted By: Wanda (Traverse City) | Hide
IT IS A COUGAR, YOU PEOPLE WOULD GET HIT BY A CAR AND SAY IT WASN'T A CAR THAT HIT YOU. COUGARS DO EXIST IN MICHIGAN, SO THERE.
9/27/2009 - Why not?

Posted By: Pat (Lake City) | Hide
Saw one in the woods in Missaukee county in the late seventies. Beautiful animal. Saw us and was gone in one leap.
9/27/2009 - Saw a cougar

Posted By: Scott (Cadillac) | Hide
Saw it on the on ramp off 115 getting onto 131. Crossed right in front of me. Huge cat with a long tail. Also heard one in my woods at home. Tracks are being found 5 miles from my home. My mom has seen one behind her house. The DNR continues to denie that there are cougars for whatever reason. Allthough I think it's because they want them around so one day they can issue licences and make bank. But to the DNR... You work for us tax payers! Who do you think you are to cover this up? I'm not stupid... I know what a mountain lion looks like and what I saw was no "kitty cat"
9/27/2009 - cougara and bears

Posted By: robert (cadillac) | Hide
dnr are so lazy and also theres no funding for this kind of thing
9/27/2009 - cat

Posted By: Jane (east jordan) | Hide
Look at the wild flowers in the back ground. They are taller than the cat, wich make this pic, a house cat.
9/27/2009 - ()

Posted By: () | Hide
No, I think that the picture really looks like the Dogman!!! Pretty scary stuff.
9/27/2009 - Tried and true my eye

Posted By: Rick (Michigan) | Hide
Ruse has certainly "tried" this method repeatedly in the endless MWC effort to mislead people about cougars in Michigan, but it is far from "true." While it is theoretically possible to determine the size of an object in a photo like this, in fact it is a complicated mathematical problem and impossible in this situation because Ruse does not have the precise measurements of distance, angle and telephoto magnification needed. Furthermore, there is no need to apply his pseudoscience to the photo. Why? Because it is abundantly clear the animal is a house cat. Thanks to DNR Wildlife for finally showing just a little spine and pushing back. To learn more about the MWC's relentless cougar misinformation campaign, read the following. http://www.michiganoutdoornews.com/articles/2007/07/05/news/news4.txt http://www.michiganoutdoornews.com/articles/2007/07/27/news/news2.txt http://www.easterncougarnet.org/Michigan%20Outdoor%20News.htm http://www.easterncougarnet.org/Michigan%20Outdoor%20News1-23.htm
9/27/2009 - TRUTHTOLD

Posted By: TRUTHTOLD (MANISTEE) | Hide
There is NO cougar's in Michigan. Everybody and their brother has had a "sighting" BUT no real proof. One would think with all the hunting cameras in the woods these days that a picture would have been taken if in fact this were true.
9/26/2009 - why they won't admit it!

Posted By: Jane (Cadillac) | Hide
the reason the DNR won't admit that there are cougars in Michigan is because if they admit there are here they would have to manage them and they don't have the money to do that. So they will never admit to their being here.
9/26/2009 - Chupacabra - not cougar

Posted By: Mike (Traverse City) | Hide
I saw it too, right across from Bill Marsh on Garfield, except it was a chupacabra. The chupacabras hunt the cougars and eat them up!
9/26/2009 - Cougars

Posted By: John (Leelanau) | Hide
I saw a cougar in South Boardman MI Aug 99. I also saw a wolverine at Harlow Lake in Marquette MI April 01 and My wife had a cougar cross in front of her on a road In between Big Bay and Marquette in 02. People do not see them often because they are extreamly elusive. Look at the research done in California. They were in back yards and no one saw them even in heavely populated areas. They cover huge areas and dont have set boundaries where they go. I am uncertain about the picture but I am convienced they are in Michigan. I have nothing to gain by lying about what I saw. I also do not fear them as encounters are so rare and they have always run when we saw them. Cougars eat deer and other game. People are usually not at risk by cougars. There is no reason to panic as they are so rare and the population is very low. The low population is the reason why no one hits one by a car and actual sightings are so scarce. Cougars are not populated like deer and racoons. It would be neat if someone catches one on a motion activated trail camera some day.
9/26/2009 - Cougar

Posted By: Steve (Kalkaska) | Hide
I showed the DNR tracks from a very large cat a few years ago and they told me it was a dog, but I could never figure out how a dog could retract it's nails and not leave marks in the soft sand and mud.
9/26/2009 - Agree

Posted By: T () | Hide
I agree that the coloring of this animal is wrong for a cougar. But keep in mind, the DNR absolutly denied that we had Pine Martin in our state as well...
9/26/2009 - Cougars are in MI

Posted By: R.W (Gladwin) | Hide
My sisters boyfriend was walking behind their house and he came across a cougar. Michigan doesnt want to cause a panic when residents find out that we actually have cougars. This is most likely why they are denying the sighting.
9/26/2009 - cougars

Posted By: Jesse (Frederic) | Hide
why wouldn't the DNR deny it? I reported a wolf siting (and yes I DO know the difference) a couple years ago and was told I was nuts and it must have been a dog. Now they admit they are in the lower penninsula. I believe the cougar sighting was real. There have also been some horses attacked in my area a few years ago "they" say were attacked by cougars. Supposedly confirmed by DNA from saliva samples and track analysis. What is the point of hiding this?
9/26/2009 - Bigfoot rides cougar!

Posted By: () | Hide
I saw the same cat, except Bigfoot was riding it. They trotted up next to my car, Bigfoot asked me for directions and a light, and rode off into the sunset, never to be seen again. Too bad I forgot my camera.
9/26/2009 - color

Posted By: Steve (baldwin) | Hide
Read the story,this picture was taken in New Mexico,puma,cougar,mountain lion,all the same cat,depending where your at,but slightly different colors. da
9/26/2009 - They ARE here

Posted By: Mary Beth (Osceola County) | Hide
We have seen what we are sure is a cougar in our area. We have also seen them several times when vacationing in the U.P as well. YES, they are in Michigan! And what a beautiful, magnificent beast they are. The DNR will deny it for years, until they are good & ready to admit it, just like the bald eagles that were here for many years before the DNR would publicly admit it.
9/26/2009 - road sightings

Posted By: Kurt (Traverse City) | Hide
Why dont cars hit all these cougars crossing the roads?
9/26/2009 - admit it

Posted By: Holly (Manistee) | Hide
I wish the dnr would just admit that cougars are here, the feds are the ones that planted them, but then again we don't have bears here either
9/26/2009 - Cougar

Posted By: Tom (Sault Ste. Marie) | Hide
Whether this is a cougar or not is beyond the fact, there are cougars in MI. A good friend once told me, and he is a CO, that the DNR did release cougars in MI, but he would flat out deny it if ever asked.
9/26/2009 - Cougar

Posted By: (Petoskey) | Hide
We have seen a cougar around our area as well. The DNR has always denied that one as well. They are around here.
9/26/2009 - cougars in michigan no surprise

Posted By: andrea (mt pleasant) | Hide
we have had family members see a cougar in isabella county before
9/26/2009 - cougar

Posted By: RIck (Cadillac) | Hide
I think the DNR is blowing hot air AGAIN!!!!!! Government officials can't even run a fuctional state. Yeah and a feeding ban helps the deer population..... I'm not even sure that I would trust them to identify a cougar!!!!!When is the last time you have seen a house cat with shoulders that muscular? It sure looks like a cougar. Even if it was a cougar, did you think they were going to come out and say, "oh yeah it's a cougar", when you have people crawling under their beds at the very thought of it. It doesn't matter if it was because they are more afraid of you then you are of them.
9/26/2009 - So what

Posted By: James (Ellsworth) | Hide
So what if there is 1 cougar out there. IF there is it was probably releashed by a previous owner. How many of you have seen bobcats and reported that. Yes there are wild animals out there and could be in anybody's back yard. You chose to live were you do and so do I.
9/26/2009 - Taxpayer

Posted By: Rich Greeley (Cadillac) | Hide
If Granholm could find a way to tax cougars, I think the DNR might change their opinion!!!
9/26/2009 - cougar controversy

Posted By: russ fimbinger (marion, mi) | Hide
It's a genuine debate & hot topic. Some believe & some don't. There are facts, fictions, & factions on this topic. When is finally either trapped or killed the truth will be known. Until then there will be dozens of sightings and cougar chases all over the State.
9/26/2009 - cougars and bears

Posted By: kay (lake county) | Hide
many in Lake County have seen cougars as well, don't know why DNR won't admit that they are here, same as they won't admit to black bear being here either, though everyone I know and myself have seen one. It would be nice to know what the DNR hopes to gain by treating the people like fools.
9/26/2009 - cat

Posted By: Steve (baldwin) | Hide
If you read the story you would see where it says this picture was of a cat in New Mexico,cougar,puma,mountain lion,all the same cat,depends where you are at,& slight color difference to.DA
9/25/2009 - color

Posted By: john (rc) | Hide
This pitcher is of a cat in new mexico,read the story.
9/25/2009 - wondering

Posted By: kelli (cadillac) | Hide
looking at this picture, i would like to see a pic of this kitty cat that they are saying is the neighbors cat.....to me looking at the picture looks like a cougar to me.
9/25/2009 - cougar sighting

Posted By: Carroy (Leland) | Hide
I saw this very same image about a year ago aroung Gill's Pier area. This cougar -- NOT a house cat -- NOT a bobcat -- walked across in front of me -- across M22. I stopped my car to avoid hitting this animal. I never reported it because when ever I told my story -- it was as though I had witnessed a UFO! As I see these pictures -- this is exactly what I saw. What I saw was not in a distance -- but in plain view. I think the DNR are just afraid to admit we have cougars here in MI. I know what I saw -- and I truly believe this Dr. and his son.
9/25/2009 - cat

Posted By: Steve (baldwin) | Hide
DNR always denies these sitings ,We have had a cougar here about four years now,many have seen him,we also seen two cubs go across in front of our car at about 50ft away,the big cat we seen two times,once running down the road and again when it come out of the woods in front of our house while we were doing yard work,it went down the road to the north of the house and went back into the woods,i was told the DNR brought them in through out the state to repopulate,but the DNR denies it.
9/25/2009 - Panic

Posted By: Austin (Big Rapids) | Hide
Why would our state lie about this picture...clearly whatever it may be is bigger than a domestic house cat. Why wouldnt you want the public to know that there is a beast among us in the woods, which is much more scared of you than you are of it. Liars!
9/25/2009 - cat

Posted By: Steve (baldwin) | Hide
DNR always denies these sightings,WE have had one here for about four years,quite a few have seen it & about two years ago we had two cubs cross the road in front of us,i & my wife have seen this cat twice,but according to the DNR we haven't.
9/25/2009 - It's not a cougar...

Posted By: Adam (Gaylord) | Hide
The color is all wrong for a cougar.
9/25/2009 - It's not a freakin cougar...

Posted By: Adam (Gaylord) | Hide
The coloring is all wrong for that image to be one of a cougar.

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