You may never see a cougar, but isn't it exciting to know they exist? Cougars are an important part of our wildlife heritage. Cougars are protected under the state Endangered Species Act and cannot be harmed except to protect human life or - by permit only - to protect livestock.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Learn more about the cougar. Read The Cougar In Michigan: Sightings And Related Information, available by calling 517-641-7677.

2. Educate your neighbors. Encourage them to follow the precautions outlined on this website.

3. Be a citizen researcher to help wildlife biologists learn more about Michigan's cougars, so we can better protect and manage them. Order the field guide Detecting Cougars In The Great Lakes Region or attend a training session. Join the Cougar Trackers and receive free e-mail news about cougars.

4. Report signs of cougars. Call the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy (517-641-7677) and ask for an Observation Report form.

5. Contribute to the Michigan Cougar Protection Fund to make possible the DNA analysis necessary to study and protect cougars, and to educate people and precent human/cougar problems. Donations are tax-deductible.