Michigan DNR reports Cougars in U.P.
They have this to say in case you encounter a cougar.
- Stop, stand tall and do not run. Pick up small children. Do not run. A cougar’s instinct is to chase.
- Do not approach the animal.
- Try to appear larger than the cougar. Never take your eyes off the animal or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
- If the animal displays aggressive behavior, shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.
- If the cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back.
Cougar-Human Interactions The DNR recognizes that the prospect of cougars in Michigan is alarming to many citizens because cougars are potentially dangerous wild animals. In states with established populations (for example California and Colorado), people have been attacked and killed by cougars. The available evidence indicates populations in the Midwest are very low and therefore, the likelihood of cougar encounters and attacks is correspondingly very low