A path digital camera captured a video of a cougar roaming Duane Clausen’s property close to County Highway 577 in southern Menominee County a couple of month in the past.
By BETSY BLOOM
Daily News
MENOMINEE — A cougar lately turned up in southern Menominee County, in accordance with the Eagle-Herald newspaper in neighboring Marinette, Wis.
A path digital camera on Duane Clausen’s property close to Birch Creek Road and County Highway 577 captured a video of the massive cat in mid-September, workers author Erin Noha reported within the Eagle-Herald’s Monday version.
Clausen posted video of the cougar on his Facebook web page, commenting that if his measurements are right in contrast with what it handed — a tree stand they’re building for searching season — the cat’s hips are about 28 to 29 inches excessive.
Reached at his home Friday, Clausen stated it’s the primary cougar he’s recorded on his 10-acre property — however not the primary he thinks he’s seen within the space. Late final 12 months, he noticed a big cat with a protracted tail whereas on his solution to church however by the point he rotated it had melted into the woods. He was in a position to take images of the pawprints, although, which he stated have been undoubtedly bigger than any housecat.
“It’s pretty exciting to have one,” Clausen stated.
(Betsy Bloom/Daily News photograph) A male wooden duck navigates Six Mile Lake in northern Dickinson County.
But the considered such a big predator in his neighborhood additionally has him planning to pack a sidearm, although he is aware of the possibilities of any form of attack are distant. This cougar appeared to be nicely fed and in fine condition, so Clausen is assured it wouldn’t be inclined to think about him as prey.
He does have a “healthy concern” about his dogs, although — a Gordon setter, German-Australian shepherd cross and a mini-goldendoodle, none of which doubtless may match up with a mountain lion. But they already dwell in an space that has bear, coyotes and wolves, in order that they know the dangers to pets.
“I think it’s a privilege,” Clausen stated, “to have (a cougar) on a trail camera.”
This isn’t the primary cougar documented within the Upper Peninsula this 12 months. Another path digital camera had footage of a cougar May 14 in Luce County. Cody Norton, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ bear, furbearer and small sport specialist who beforehand dealt with giant carnivores, stated that was the third sighting in 2023, with the primary two coming in Chippewa and Menominee counties. No data was available Friday on whether or not any others had been reported between Clausen’s cat and the one in Luce County.
Cougars as soon as roamed northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula however have been thought-about extirpated by the early 1900s, with the final authorized wild cougar kill recorded in 1906 in Newberry.
But they’ve frequently turned up once more within the area since about 2008, although not in giant numbers. It’s thought all of those cats have been young males, wandering from South or North Dakota searching for territory and mates, an motion often called “dispersing.” To date, the area doesn’t have a identified breeding inhabitants of cougars, as no females seem like making the identical motion east, in accordance with the DNR.
Birds have additionally been on the transfer
Waterfowl, among the latest of the seasonal migrants, seem like turning up within the area as the autumn migration progresses.
Friday’s north winds introduced ring-necked and wooden geese to Six Mile Lake, the place they have been feeding and napping among the many fading lily pads. They’re the primary non-mallard geese I’ve seen on the lake in roughly a month. I’m hopeful extra will contact down throughout the subsequent week.
As famous with the native geese species, a lot of what we will see by way of geese are spring and fall transients, certain for factors past. Only mallards, blue-winged teal, wooden geese and hooded mergansers are thought to nest in vital numbers in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. But migration time can supply the possibility of the opposite dabbling and diving geese and mergansers touching down for a break. Grebes, too, can flip up presently of 12 months, although many species can be within the drab winter plumage of darkish grey above, pale under, as are loons.
Sparrows and juncos are again in drive proper now. Robins are flocking and profiting from the ample fruit crop this 12 months. So if not already placing out meals, it’s once more value making the trouble to lure them in with black oil sunflower and niger seed.
Next week I’ll element what could be in retailer for winter finches this coming season.
