ECN Review of Kalkaska County, Michigan "Cougar Attacks"

ECN has reviewed photographic evidence relating to alleged August 2002 "cougar attacks" on livestock in Kalkaska County, Michigan. This incident had generated considerable media attention and controversy at the time.  ECN had previously considered this incident to be "probable" evidence of a cougar, based on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ assessment that the attacker was most likely a "large feline".  After consulting with the MDNR, and performing our own analysis of the circumstances and photographic evidence, we now believe it’s unlikely that a cougar was involved.

Background

MDNR wildlife biologists investigated potential depredation incidents on two farms.

Farm #1                                                                                                                                          

The only tracks in the vicinity were determined to be bobcat. Marks on a horse were inconclusive and could have resulted from it coming into contact with barbed wire. It was determined that a cougar was not involved.

Farm #2                                                                                                                                 
Approximately 1 mile from the first farm.  An 1,800-pound Percheron mule, a horse, and 200 pound Great Pyrenees dog were all injured. The biologists determined that a "large feline" was the most likely culprit based on:

1) Perceived absence of claw marks on some of the tracks.

2) The injuries on the animals appeared to be consistent with what might be inflicted by a large cat.

3) Recent sighting reports of two cougars in the area, apparently a female and cub.

The MDNR issued a depredation permit to the owners of the farm for a "large feline, species unknown". The attacks did not recur and the permit was never used.

At no time did the biologists consider the results of their investigation to be conclusive.

ECN Review

ECN obtained the photographs of the tracks, as well as the wounds to the mule and dog. In our view, all of the tracks appeared to be canine. The wounds to the mule and dog also did not appear to be consistent with a cougar attack. We subsequently consulted with over a dozen prominent cougar researchers and depredation specialists. Based on the photographic evidence, these experts concurred with our assessment that a cougar was probably not involved in the attacks.

An additional factor in our minds concerned the likelihood of a cougar attack on an 1,800 pound Percheron mule. Of all the large cats, the cougar is known for taking the largest prey in proportion to its own size. On occasion, cougars are known to take animals up to 7 times their own weight. Assuming that this was a normal sized female cougar, this cat would have been attempting to kill an animal 16 - 23 times its own weight. Our experts considered this possible, but unlikely.

We also found the reliability of the sighting reports to be questionable, as one of the witnesses described the smaller "cougar" as being "black" in color. There has never been a reliably documented incidence of a truly black cougar.

Acknowledgements

ECN is indebted to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for providing valuable information about the circumstances surrounding these incidents, as well as its photographic evidence.  We are also indebted to all of the experts we contacted who were kind enough to review the photographic evidence.  We are particularly grateful to the following individuals:

Darrell Land

Florida Panther Section Leader

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Naples, FL

Bill Van Pelt

Biologist

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Phoenix, Arizona

Donald G. Whittaker, Ph.D.

Assistant Staff Biologist, Big Game

Oregon Dept. Fish & Wildlife

Salem, OR

Mike Kintigh
Regional Supervisor

South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department

Rapid City, South Dakota

John H. Young

Mammologist

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Austin, TX