If you’ve ever visited the state of Michigan, you know that the state is covered in acres of woods and lakes and is flourishing with all sorts of wildlife. It’s not too often that you have to worry about wild animals approaching you while out on a hike. Aside from the occasional coyote or black bear, both of which tend to keep to themselves, there are two wild cat species that currently live in Michigan. Most residents of Michigan are surprised when they hear of wild cat sightings—it’s not every day that these cats come out to play. If they see a person, it isn’t likely that they are going to approach or attack you. Still, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), wild cats do reside in both the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. To confirm this, they can’t rely on reported sightings of the animals alone. They rely on hard evidence like tracks, photos, carcasses, and droppings instead.
What Wild Cats Currently Live in Michigan? While the DNR doesn’t believe that there are very large populations left, there are two confirmed species of wild cats currently residing in this part of the Midwest.
- Canada Lynx Image Credit: Jukka Jantunen, Shutterstock There have been several sightings of the Canada Lynx in northern parts of the state. However, some experts believe that these cats are just passing through while traveling. Sightings of these cats have been rare over the past 40 years. Some of the two most recent were by Michigan State University in 2003 and another by a local news site that captured footage of a lynx in 2019.
- Bobcat Image Credit: Eszter Miller, Pixabay Bobcats are wild cats that are commonly found across the entire United States. Most evidence suggests that these cats stick to the northern parts of the state, but there have been more reports occurring in southern areas as well. Surprisingly, bobcats have been documented in every county in Michigan, making them to most popular wild cat found in the state. History of Other Wild Cats in Michigan Is it possible that only two wild cat species live in this northern part of the country? It might come as a surprise to learn that cougars were also once a native species of Michigan. Unfortunately, sightings of these big cats are extremely rare since they were completely wiped out in the 1900s. The DNR has reported and confirmed several sightings of cougars in the Upper Peninsula since 2008, although there is no definitive evidence to confirm that they reside here. Tips for Protecting Your Pets from Wild Cats in Michigan Image Credit: Marco Carli, Pixabay You might not be able to spot a wild cat with your own eye very easily, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t watching you. Our pets are the most prone to attacks from wild cats, and you shouldn’t be protecting them from cats alone. Other wildlife like coyotes, foxes, and raccoons could also put your pet in danger. So, how do you keep them safe? Here are a few tips:
Don’t allow your pets outside at night without supervision.
Keep all pets up to date on their vaccinations.
Don’t leave food or water bowls outside that could attract wild animals.
Keep dogs away from places that wild animals might hide, such as heavy grass, bushes, and woodpiles.
Keep pets on a leash while out walking or hiking.
Conclusion While there are a couple of wild cat species that live in the state of Michigan, spotting them is very rare. Still, you don’t want to take any risks and have them become a danger to your pet. Before going out into the woods, make sure to check with the DNR to confirm any recent wildlife sightings and take safety precautions in case of an emergency. Cats tend to be solitary animals that stay away from humans, but you can never be too safe. See Also:
10 Spiders Found in Michigan Cat Coat Genetics — Understanding the Basics
Featured Image Credit:GenDesilets , Pixabay
If you’ve ever visited the state of Michigan, you know that the state is covered in acres of woods and lakes and is flourishing with all sorts of wildlife. It’s not too often that you have to worry about wild animals approaching you while out on a hike. Aside from the occasional coyote or black bear, both of which tend to keep to themselves, there are two wild cat species that currently live in Michigan.
Most residents of Michigan are surprised when they hear of wild cat sightings—it’s not every day that these cats come out to play. If they see a person, it isn’t likely that they are going to approach or attack you. Still, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), wild cats do reside in both the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. To confirm this, they can’t rely on reported sightings of the animals alone. They rely on hard evidence like tracks, photos, carcasses, and droppings instead.
What Wild Cats Currently Live in Michigan?
While the DNR doesn’t believe that there are very large populations left, there are two confirmed species of wild cats currently residing in this part of the Midwest.
1. Canada Lynx
There have been several sightings of the Canada Lynx in northern parts of the state. However, some experts believe that these cats are just passing through while traveling. Sightings of these cats have been rare over the past 40 years. Some of the two most recent were by Michigan State University in 2003 and another by a local news site that captured footage of a lynx in 2019.
2. Bobcat
Bobcats are wild cats that are commonly found across the entire United States. Most evidence suggests that these cats stick to the northern parts of the state, but there have been more reports occurring in southern areas as well. Surprisingly, bobcats have been documented in every county in Michigan, making them to most popular wild cat found in the state.
History of Other Wild Cats in Michigan
Is it possible that only two wild cat species live in this northern part of the country? It might come as a surprise to learn that cougars were also once a native species of Michigan. Unfortunately, sightings of these big cats are extremely rare since they were completely wiped out in the 1900s. The DNR has reported and confirmed several sightings of cougars in the Upper Peninsula since 2008, although there is no definitive evidence to confirm that they reside here.
Tips for Protecting Your Pets from Wild Cats in Michigan
You might not be able to spot a wild cat with your own eye very easily, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t watching you. Our pets are the most prone to attacks from wild cats, and you shouldn’t be protecting them from cats alone. Other wildlife like coyotes, foxes, and raccoons could also put your pet in danger. So, how do you keep them safe? Here are a few tips:
Don’t allow your pets outside at night without supervision.
Keep all pets up to date on their vaccinations.
Don’t leave food or water bowls outside that could attract wild animals.
Keep dogs away from places that wild animals might hide, such as heavy grass, bushes, and woodpiles.
Keep pets on a leash while out walking or hiking.
Conclusion
While there are a couple of wild cat species that live in the state of Michigan, spotting them is very rare. Still, you don’t want to take any risks and have them become a danger to your pet. Before going out into the woods, make sure to check with the DNR to confirm any recent wildlife sightings and take safety precautions in case of an emergency. Cats tend to be solitary animals that stay away from humans, but you can never be too safe.
Don’t allow your pets outside at night without supervision.
Keep all pets up to date on their vaccinations.
Don’t leave food or water bowls outside that could attract wild animals.
Keep dogs away from places that wild animals might hide, such as heavy grass, bushes, and woodpiles.
Keep pets on a leash while out walking or hiking.
- Don’t allow your pets outside at night without supervision.
- Keep all pets up to date on their vaccinations.
- Don’t leave food or water bowls outside that could attract wild animals.
- Keep dogs away from places that wild animals might hide, such as heavy grass, bushes, and woodpiles.
- Keep pets on a leash while out walking or hiking.
See Also:
- 10 Spiders Found in Michigan
- Cat Coat Genetics — Understanding the Basics
Featured Image Credit:GenDesilets , Pixabay
