Mountain Lions In Wisconsin

There is only one big cat in North America – the mountain lion! Cougars are one of the most beautiful and mysterious animals. Although they used to live in nearly every state in the United States, today, their range of activity is greatly reduced. For anyone living in Wisconsin, today you can officially find out if there are cougars in your state! Let’s take a full look at Wisconsin’s cougars.

Are there cougars in Wisconsin?

There are definitely cougars in Wisconsin, but current reports indicate there is no stable breeding population in the state.

Cougars go by many names, including cougar, mountain lion, panther, panther, cougar, and mishibijn. Whatever you call them, they are truly one of the greatest wild animals to live in North America. These fascinating creatures are top predators, but unfortunately their numbers have been in decline for some time.

There are an estimated 20,000-40,000 lions living in the United States. Although there are mountain lions living in Wisconsin, there used to be more of them. From 2017 to 2021, there were 76 sightings of the big cats, and each year has become more common. While this looks dire, it actually means the mountain lion may be reclaiming part of its historic range.

Let’s delve a little further into the history of the Wisconsin Cougars.

When were the Cougars kicked out of Wisconsin?

The eastern mountain lion has been extinct since the 1930s, and by the early 1900s, most of the population had died or been pushed west. Tragically, these animals are killed by farmers and hunters and are considered a deadly threat to humans and livestock. While cougar attacks do happen, they are very rare. In fact, an area with cougars present is actually safer than an area without them. This is because cougars can control deer populations and greatly reduce collisions between cars and deer.

“However, we estimate that pumas will [deer-vehicle collisions] Rather than they may directly kill (<1 per year) or harm (∼5 per year). "

Albany locations

The eastern mountain lion population is no more, but recent data show that mountain lions are starting to reclaim their historic ranges, of which Wisconsin is a part. Today, the only stable mountain lion population in the East lives in Florida. Known as the Florida panther, these cats live primarily in the swamps and pine forests of central Florida. There are fewer than 200 Florida panthers left in the wild.

When was the last time a cougar was seen in Wisconsin?

Cougars are seen every year in Wisconsin. These sightings are easy to track down, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources maintains a record. When looking at these sightings, it’s important to be aware of a few things. The first is that many sightings are of the same cat walking through an area. Second, while Wisconsin has an apparent presence of cougars, none of the cats appear to be breeding or living full-time in the state.

Current data suggests that most of the cougars seen in Wisconsin were “short-lived” males from a stable population in South Dakota’s Black Hills. Transient animals have negative population growth in one area but have dispersed from other ranges in which they exist.

What other big cats are there in Wisconsin?

Although the mountain lion population in Wisconsin is volatile, many other animals live in the area. Historically, Wisconsin was home to three species of big cats: the mountain lion, bobcat and Canadian lynx. Today, only the bobcats are left.

Bobcats are medium-sized cats that live in most parts of the United States. In fact, bobcats are the most widespread member of the country’s cat family. There are bobcat populations in almost every state except for a few Midwestern plains states.

These stunning animals weigh between 15 and 40 pounds and have stubby tails with a spotted pattern and characteristic tufts of hair on their ears. Because of their size and incredible hunting abilities, bobcats are able to survive where mountain lions have been driven out. Most bobcats feed on rabbits and squirrels, but in due course, they will hunt deer. In fact, bobcats can catch prey up to 8 times their body weight!

Will the Cougars return to Wisconsin?

After reading and learning about cougars being driven out of the East, many wondered if they would ever return. Thankfully, for the first time in years, it was in the Cougars’ favor. The population appears to have stopped decreasing and has finally stabilized. As a result, pumas began to expand to new territories, looking for their own territories and hunting grounds.

The latest data show that mountain lions have begun to expand east again and have reclaimed some of their historic range. As these felines roam and seek new lands, breeding populations will stay in the places they once called home. Wisconsin is actually one of the epicenters where this amazing phenomenon is happening! Decades later, Wisconsin could easily be a state that could proudly claim to be home to a thriving mountain lion population.

Regardless, Iowa and Minnesota have yet to verify breeding cougar populations. Any cougar born in South Dakota would have to pass through Iowa or Minnesota to reach Wisconsin. Still, it’s clear that pumas are expanding their range, something felines are gradually doing.

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