Ide like to ask the question of why we don't have a breeding population? It seems we have the habitat atleast in pockets.

The theory is the younger males get pressured so they leave the area in search of their own habitat range pushing them into new areas.

There were cam pictures some years back from over by Craig if I recall with a female and very young kittens. Previous to that quite a few years pictures were taken of a couple of kittens as well over between Floodwood and Hibbing.

In Goldys area by Zimmerman people were seeing and getting pictures of a young pair. That was maybe 4 years ago?

There is a place owner near me that came over and gave a perfect description of a large cougar in his yard, I went back and saw the tracks but did not see the cat. That was maybe 20 years ago.

Who knows.

Osky

Like I said earlier and many people on this thread have noted, Minnesota has had a breeding population for a couple decades.

And for good reason!!!

I didn't drink their Kool-Aid

"The Wolf population according to them has remained the Same for 20 years"

What they clearly state is the issue

Mountain Lion cubs will often stay with mom for 18 months. A 12 month old kitten would have zero problems keeping up with mother. In the Black Hills 100% of young males disperse compared to 40% of females. Females generally travel a much shorter distance.

MN has an independent Biologist who specializes in Cats. He has investigated hundreds of sightings in MN. He debunks over 90% of all sightings by the general public. Most are just sensationalized stories that grow as they are repeated !


https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/wildlife-terrestrial/docs/genetics/news/gfh2.html

Actually, according to them, it has reduced. At a meeting in Little Falls a little over 20 years ago, they said the estimated population of wolves in MN was 3,300. With a couple limited seasons since then and no real natural predators, they claim the population has dropped? They are insulting our intelligence!

Actually, I see the DNR not acknowledging a breeding population as a good thing. If Minnesota has a resident breeding population they would have to manage it. In today's political environment I can't see anything positive for hunting and trapping coming from that.

Like the story " About only transient cats"

If there are multiple verifications of kittens, but there is a not a breeding population, then what is the definition of a breeding population?

Exactly right. I'm just fine with them not acknowledging a breeding population.

IF they acknowledge or confirm a breeding population antis would QUICKLY file under ESA, and could shut down all sorts of recreation, both consumptive and nonconsumptive, that could POTENTIALLY interfere with them.
Think decades of studies...

The winner for the day. Nothing good would come your way from an acknowledgement of such a population. Unless you feel listing petitions and more restrictions on hunting & trapping are a good thing.

Cougars will live in just about any type of habitat if people will tolerate them; from desserts to tropical swamps.
However, if people aren't willing to have them around they are relatively easy to eradicate with hounds, particularly in the type of terrain that is found in MN.

Wolves are harvested by Federal Trappers in MN every year. Individual trappers have harvested triple digit numbers. Years with high Federal harvest, usually result in actual fewer conflicts the following year.

Like Donner survivor said, why wouldn’t there be a breeding population in Mn. They could not wipe out the wolves in Northern MN like the rest of the continental us. In the late 80’s experts put the wolf population at 1000 to 1200, we are still over three times that amount and also seeded Wi and the UP

And don’t nitpick other than Alaska and Mn wolves where all but gone from the us, because we did not want them

Truth

David P's got it right. How large could a new Mountain lion zone be in MN and how far ranging the consequences to protect the newly designated endangered cat be? I shudder to think about it.

The Meeker County cat/cats have been on camera for 3 yrs. Last year was the last time the young man hunted the area.
Plenty of other places to hunt. When a cat takes your deer. Eats it and buries the rest. Why stay)))))))!!!!!

Litchfield Mn is the area.