Marimo moss is a form of algae from Northern Europe and Asia, and marimo moss balls are a popular aquarium plant used to generate oxygen and remove nitrates from tanks.

While the corporate stores were working to quarantine stock in compliance with an order from Petco headquarters, inspectors began finding contaminated stock on the shelves of independent stores and in store aquarium systems. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division confirmed that infested moss balls have been found in several stores throughout the state.

In Michigan, an invasive species is defined as one that is not native and whose introduction causes harm, or is likely to cause harm, to the economy, environment or human health.

Regular discoveries of goldfish and other aquarium species in Michigan waters indicate that aquarium dumping – disposing of unwanted pets and plants into natural waterways – is still occurring in the state. If contaminated moss balls are not properly disposed of, or if tanks that held them are not properly decontaminated, there is a risk of zebra mussels being released into waterways.

If zebra mussels are found on any moss balls in containers or in aquariums, infested moss balls and packaging should be frozen for 24 hours, boiled for one full minute, or submerged in bleach or vinegar for 20 minutes before double-bagging, sealing and disposing in the trash.

The DNR recommends that tank water from aquariums holding infested moss balls be decontaminated by removing plants and pets, adding 1/10 cup bleach to every gallon of water and allowing at least 10 minutes of contact time before draining.

Consequently, by the late 1800s, cougars were almost eliminated from the eastern United States, driven by these fears. Wholesale logging of the forests the cougars called home also played a role, as waves of settlement converted much of the state to farmland.

Many states and the federal government created bounties, money paid to people to kill cougars and other predators, with the goal of erasing them from the landscape. These efforts worked so well that cougars were eliminated from Michigan by the early 20th century.

While memories of these big cats persisted in communities across the state, trying to find physical evidence to support reported sightings proved to be a bit like chasing a ghost.

These would-be cougars were actually animals as mundane as a large housecat seen from an angle that made it appear much larger or as unusual and exotic as an escaped pet serval – a large wild cat from Africa that’s definitely not legal to keep as a pet in Michigan.

As reported sightings became more common, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources created a “cougar team” in 2008 to review reports of cougars and to try to verify them.

Brian Roell, a DNR wildlife biologist at Marquette, takes the mission of the cougar team very seriously.

“The team is made up of wildlife biologists for the DNR who have received specialized training in how to identify cougars from photos, as well as from tracks, scat and other physical evidence they may leave behind,” Roell said. “It’s important that we’re able to identify these animals correctly, not just for conservation purposes but also so that residents can be informed about the wildlife living around them and take commonsense precautions.”

If the evidence appears to have come from a cougar, DNR staffers will follow up with a site visit. This helps the biologists verify that photos haven’t been faked or reported from false locations. The visits also let the biologists measure trees and other objects to help estimate the size of animals in photos submitted with reports.

Sometimes, the team members even use a life-sized, cardboard cougar silhouette to try to recreate the photo to help arrive at a correct identification.

So far, their hard work has verified 65 cougar reports in Michigan.

“We don’t think these are all different cougars,” Roell said. “Many of these reports include photos from trail cameras, and it’s very likely that the same cat is being spotted in different places as it moves through the forest.”

“There’s no evidence of a breeding population here – no signs of kittens in any verified report, and all of the animals where we’ve been able to determine their sex have been male,” said Kristie Sitar, DNR wildlife biologist at Newberry.

Sitar said some DNA studies have been conducted on the cougars found here, using evidence collected from verified reports or a cougar poached in Schoolcraft County several years ago.

This testing has shown the animals being reported in Michigan have traced back to a population found in South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska.

“These are likely young male cougars looking for areas far from home where they can find mates and establish their own territories, and they just keep moving when they don’t find any female cougars,” Sitar said.

All but one of the verified cougar sightings the team has reviewed have been from the Upper Peninsula. Chances of seeing one in the Lower Peninsula are extremely low.

Like with most wildlife, there are some simple preventative steps you can take to make your home less attractive to cougars.

Remove sources of food, shelter and safety. For cougars, this means not letting pets roam outside alone, providing shelter for livestock, not feeding wildlife, removing landscaping that provides shrubby cover for animals to hide in near buildings and installing outside lighting with motion detectors.

If you encounter a cougar when you’re outdoors, your best bet is to try to appear too dangerous to tangle with: don’t turn your back on the animal, look as large as you can by standing tall and waving your arms, and talk loudly.

Never run from a cougar, though you can move away slowly. If you are attacked, fight back and never play dead. Remember that the likelihood that you’ll ever see a cougar in Michigan is extremely low, and the likelihood of an attack is even lower.

“These cats are very rare in Michigan,” said Pete Kailing, a DNR wildlife biologist in Paris. “Much of the data we’ve been able to gather so far is thanks to the willingness of Michiganders to share their photos and other evidence with us.”

If you’re interested in learning more about cougars in Michigan, Kailing suggests starting at Michigan.gov/Cougars, where you can find tips on how to tell if the animal you’ve seen is a cougar, how to report a cougar sighting and the current status on where cougars have been confirmed in Michigan.

License options include:

• Annual all-species resident: $26.
• Annual all-species nonresident: $76.
• Annual all-species senior: $11 (65 and older or legally blind, Michigan residents only).
• Annual all-species youth: $2 (voluntary license for residents or nonresidents under the age of 17).
• Daily all-species resident or nonresident: $10/day (you set the date/time for license to start).

Michigan law requires people 17 or older to purchase a fishing license before fishing in public waters. Those under 17 may fish without a license but must observe all fishing rules and regulations.

New this year: Anglers 16 or younger can purchase a voluntary youth all-species license. Any adult actively assisting a youth angler must have a fishing license.

New to fishing? Check out our how-to videos for safety and fishing tips at Michigan.gov/HowToFish.

For more information on licenses and regulation changes, check out the Michigan Fishing Guide – available at license retailers or online at Michigan.gov/DNRDigests. The 2021 guide will be available online April 1 and will be valid through March 31, 2022. The online version of the current guide is always up to date and available to download.

Forest health experts, including the Michigan DNR Forest Health Team, fielded record numbers of such questions in 2020 as people observed nature in their backyards, trails and gardens.

“Gypsy moth topped the list of calls this year in the Lower Peninsula,” said DNR forest health specialist James Wieferich. In the Upper Peninsula, spruce budworm was the biggest concern for locals.

Details about forest health challenges like these pests and predictions for the future are included in the 2020 Michigan Forest Health Highlights report.
Updates share the effects of rising waters on coastal forests and detail efforts to slow the spread of a tiny tree killer, the hemlock woolly adelgid. They also provide data about a continuing outbreak of voracious gypsy moths present in numbers not seen in years.

Since the DNR’s beginnings as the Department of Conservation in 1921, the health of forests has been a priority, starting with wildfire prevention and tree planting and expanding into work to reduce the effects of damaging insects and diseases. Today, community engagement is key in catching issues before they grow from localized infestations to large-scale outbreaks.

“Community members are often the first people to notice when a new pest or disease appears, and early detection is critical in getting infestations under control,” said Sue Tangora, DNR Forest Health Program manager.

Want to learn more? Visit Michigan.gov/ForestHealth or contact James Wieferich at 517-284-5866.

While black bears primarily are found in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula, they occasionally are spotted in southern counties, too. After leaving their dens, bears look for leafy green vegetation to replenish their bodies after months of hibernation. Given the chance, though, these opportunistic feeders will take advantage of available food sources such as calorie-rich bird seed, garbage cans and pet foods.

“Many of us have enjoyed watching birds visit feeders during the winter months, especially while working from home and sheltering in place,” said Hannah Schauer, communications and education coordinator in the DNR Wildlife Division. “But as wildlife become more active in the spring, bird seed can attract more than just birds to your yard.”

No matter what, it’s important to keep wildlife visitors at a distance for the safety of the animals and people. Help your community avoid bear conflicts by removing your bird feeders now, securing trash cans in enclosed areas and taking in pet foods that may be outside.

To learn more about being Bear SMART this spring, visit Michigan.gov/Wildlife or contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.

Media contact: Rachel Leightner at 517-243-5813.