QUESTIONS THE MDNR SHOULD BE CONSIDERING

1. If there are no cougars in Michigan, as the MDNR has stated for 50 years, why was the cougar placed on the Endangered Species Act in 1987?

2. What was the evidence the MDNR used to conclude the last cougar in Michigan was killed in 1906?

3. If the MDNR really thinks the cougars seen in Michigan are escaped or released pets, why aren't they taking action to capture them since these are the cats that would be most dangerous to humans?

4. Pat Lederle, Brad Wurfel and Ray Rustem, all MDNR officials, have been quoted as saying there is no proof of a "viable, breeding population of cougars" and also that the cougars are not a "significant resource" or haven't reached a "minimum population threshold," therefore no action is required by the MDNR. Isn't the Michigan Endangered Species Act designed to protect those species with the lowest population levels?

5. George Burgoyne (MDNR Deputy Director) has been widely quoted saying there is no MDNR policy on cougars. Why then did Larry Robinson feel he had to hide his sighting from the press and public (email to John Hendrickson and Tim Reis, dated July 15, 1998) and Ann Wilson have to ask her supervisors to "soften" the MDNR stance on there being cougars in the U.P. (email from George Burgoyne to Ann Wilson, dated October 9, 1998)?