Cougars spotted in Mid-Michigan

LAPEER COUNTY (WJRT) -- (01/06/09) -- Do cougars live in Mid-Michigan? There is evidence the big cats have moved into the area.

An image captured by a trail cam in 2007 in northwestern Lapeer County shows what appears to be a cougar.  But is that possible?

Bob Van Den Berg thinks so.

Van Den Berg lives in northeastern Lapeer County and says he has seen eight cougars since 1986. "They're out there and I don't feel they're anything to be fearful of. They're very elusive."

Van Den Berg, his wife and twin sons have all seen cougars on their farm. Nearly every cat they've seen didn't have the tan color we've all seen in pictures and in the movies.

"Charcoal black. More black than gray," Van Den Berg said.

Dolores Van Den Berg and the twins saw a black cougar December 6.  "I saw the cat out in the middle of the field here, so I got the binoculars out. I watched it for awhile. He kept coming closer to the house," she recalled.

It came within 25 yards of the house before disappearing behind some farm equipment.

Reporter:  We're you guys excited or nervous?

Matthew and Mark Van Den Berg:  Excited. I hadn't seen one in a long time.

"They scare me a little bit. I won't have my grandson play out back here," Dolores said.

The Van Den Berg family has taken pictures of cougar tracks. But they've never had a camera handy when a cougar has passed by.

"I do get excited. And I'm bound and determined I'm going to get some pictures of him," she vowed.

Cougars are native to Michigan, but their population was decimated in the late 1800s. It's only been in the past 20 years or so that they've been seen in in this area.

"They're the most beautiful critter you've ever seen," Bob said.

The Van Den Berg family says it has never told police officers or the DNR about the cougar sightings.

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local, randy conat

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