Cougars in Wisconsin

Cougars (Puma concolor) also known as puma, mountain lion, panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn (Ojibwa), once roamed throughout the state of Wisconsin. It was one of three wild cats native to the state, along with the bobcat (Lynx rufus) and the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). Currently bobcats are the only known breeding wild cat in the state, with a fall population of about 3000 in northern Wisconsin, and lower numbers in other portions of the state. Canada lynx do not appear to breed in Wisconsin, but rare visits are made to the state from this northern wildcat. Wild cougars probably disappeared from the state by about 1910, but reports again began to surface in the 1940s of possible cougars in the state. These were probably of escaped captive cougars or misidentifications. Since the 1940s various naturalists and wildlife biologists collected reports of cougar observations.

Since 1991, the Wisconsin DNR has conducted a standardized system of collecting reports of cougars and other rare mammals. On January 18, 2008 a cougar was sighted near Milton, in Rock County, Wisconsin. The sighting was verified as 'cougar' from the tracks and DNA from a small drop of blood from a cut on the foot. Since that time cougar tracks have been found near Elkhorn, about 23 miles southeast of the Milton sighting. The Wisconsin DNR is continuing to investigate sightings and tracks in Rock and Walworth Counties.

Photo of a cougar in Northeast MN, about 47 miles from the WI border.

The cougar is the largest wildcat in North America north of Mexico. In the Americas, only the jaguar (Panthera onca) of South America, Central America, and Mexico are larger. Adult male cougars typically weigh 115 to 160 pounds, and adult females normally range from 75 to 110 pounds. Some large males may weigh as much as 265 pounds. Males are 80 to 95 inches in total length and females are 72 to 80 inches in length. The long rope-like tail is 28 to 38 inches in length. Adults stand about 27 to 31 inches at the shoulder. The tracks of cougars in mud or snow are usually about 2.7 to 4.0 inches in length, and 2.8 to 4.5 inches in width showing no claws, and round in appearance, and often wider than they are long.