Two cougar cubs, confirmed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, signal first verified cougar reproduction east of the Mississippi in over 100 years.

A trail camera image from December 6, 2025, confirmed the presence of two cougar cubs, now about a year old, traveling with their mother in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—the first verified cougar reproduction in the state east of the Mississippi River in over a century. The Michigan DNR verified the photo, taken in Ontonagon County, marking a significant milestone for cougar conservation. The cubs were first spotted in March 2025, and their survival since then suggests a breeding female is now present. While cougars were extirpated in Michigan by the early 1900s, sightings have increased since 2008, with 168 confirmed reports—mostly in the Upper Peninsula—many linked to a growing network of over 1,300 DNR trail cameras. The DNR stresses cougars remain endangered and illegal to hunt or harass, urging the public to avoid disturbing their habitat, especially during winter when the family may stay together.