Researchers are seeking further evidence of cougars in Wisconsin.
DNA testing confirmed a cougar sighting in Rock County near Milton earlier this year. Eric Anderson, a professor of wildlife ecology at UW-Stevens Point, says there have been reports of possible cougar sightings from a lot of people around the state. Anderson and his students use that information to determine where to set up hair snares, which cougars will hopefully rub up against and leave a sample for testing.
Anderson says they are currently focusing on sighting around Rock County and in the Three Lakes area. He says there are hair snares up in those regions and some trail cameras as well.
So far, Anderson says there has been no further evidence of the Rock County cougar. He says that could indicate the animals have been here in Wisconsin for some time, without us even knowing.
Anderson was fairly confident that sooner or later there will be a population of cougars in Wisconsin, although he does not think it will ever be large.
AUDIO: John Burton reports (MP3 1:10)
