Cougar Fatally Shot in Buffalo County, Wisconsin by Hunter

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed that a cougar was shot and killed in Buffalo County by an archery deer hunter who felt their safety was at risk. Cougars are a protected species in Wisconsin, but no charges will be filed as the hunter self-reported the incident and the DNR determined it was a case of self-defense. While cougars are native to Wisconsin, they were extirpated in the early 1900s, and the DNR has not confirmed evidence of a breeding population. Sightings of cougars in the state have been increasing but are still rare, with most observations being of dispersing individuals from established populations out west. The public is encouraged to report cougar sightings to the DNR.