For the past nine years, the MWC has conducted research on the big cats, which were once thought to have vanished from the state by the early 1900s. Fieldwork by the Conservancy, published in a peer-reviewed scientific article, detected cougars in widely-separated areas of both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.

"Cougars (mountain lions) are often sighted in areas with plentiful deer and adequate cover," says Haywood. "Deer hunter reports can be very helpful in determining the cougar's presence throughout the state."

That's why Haywood says the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy is asking Michigan's 750,000+ gun and bow hunters to take video or still cameras with them when hunting.

"With the expanded use of trail cameras by hunters, the odds of getting more photographs of the big cat have increased," he explained. "Michigan deer hunters can be a real help in documenting the distribution of this elusive predator."

Deer hunters observing cougars are encouraged to submit a sighting report along with any images they may have taken. An MWC Cougar Observation Report Form can be obtained by contacting the Conservancy directly at (517) 641-7677 or can be downloaded from the organization's website at: www.miwildlife.org. Citizens can also report cougar sightings and related information to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at its website: www.Michigan.gov/dnr.

The cougar is fully-protected by state law, and the Conservancy has established a Michigan Cougar Protection Fund to increase awareness of the cougar's presence and biology, aid future research, and help in curbing illegal killing. Donations to the fund can be made on-line at the group's website: www.miwildlife.org.

An informative brochure entitled Living with Cougars in Michigan is also available free of charge from the Conservancy. To obtain a copy, send a business-sized, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, P.O. Box 393, Bath, MI 48808. The brochure is also available in larger quantities for distribution at organizational meetings, sporting goods stores, retail establishments and tourist destinations. Simply contact the Conservancy at (517) 641-7677.

The Michigan Wildlife Conservancy is Michigan's first and foremost nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration of all habitat vital to sustain fish and wildlife. Since its founding in 1982, the MWC has conducted major projects in 67 of Michigan's 83 counties from remote rural areas to Michigan's most densely populated, restoring more than 10,000 acres of wetland and prairies, and countless miles of creeks, streams and rivers.

The Conservancy has also been a key player in re-establishing Michigan's wild turkey population and creating habitat for the rare Kirtland's warbler. For more information, visit: www.miwildlife.org.