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Incredible footage of a cougar at a deer kill in Minnesota

Voyageurs Wolf Project | June 9, 2026



In the early morning of May 5, we received a mortality signal from a GPS-collar on a deer we had collared a few months earlier. We reached the deer carcass by 6 a.m., and immediately knew it had been killed by a cougar because the carcass had been dragged 117 meters and then buried under debris.

We set up cameras on the carcass, knowing the cougar would likely be back soon. Later that day, we captured hours of footage of this male cougar feeding on his kill. Capturing such footage, along with the female and kittens in March, in northern Minnesota has been surreal for us. And we cannot help but wonder could this be the beginning of a self-sustaining cougar population in the state?

We don’t know but we want to find out by studying and documenting the cougars that appear to have recently settled in our area, including this male—but we need help. We literally have no budget to study cougars…frankly, we didn’t even expect this to be a possibility a year ago.

BUT, it is too interesting and unique to not pursue but we need donations —link below!— to support this research. We want to purchase another 40-50 cameras to deploy in areas where we know cougars are.

For perspective: the footage of this cougar was only possible because of the 10,600 donors who have supported our project and enabled us to purchase trail cameras supplies such as cameras, SD cards, mounts, batteries—HUGE thanks to everyone who has donated!

We want to get more footage of this male, the female and her kittens, and of any other cougars out there. And we want funds to collect and analyze any genetic samples we encounter.

We will use a portion of the donations made at the link below to do just that. Plus, all the cameras simultaneously help us study wolves of the area more intensively at the same time.

Support our efforts and donate here: https://crowdfund.umn.edu/campaigns/VWP2026

Lastly, huge thanks to the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for supporting the Voyageurs Wolf Project and the recent effort to understand deer survival in the area. Their support was critical to this observation—without it, we would never have captured this footage.

Written by Voyageurs Wolf Project

Comments

This post currently has 43 comments.

  1. @jeff5101

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    I came face to face with a cougar in WI on the first Saturday of Sept. 1987, I remember the date because it was opening small game season and the end of my first week as a freshman in college. Awesome experience, close enough to put my hand on if I had wanted to.

  3. @Ochibason

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    We have them in south Minneapolis in the city and also NE Minneapolis many years. Footage caught on garage cameras etc Fantastic. Very cool.

  7. @rnupnorthbrrrsm6123

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    Several years ago I was traveling on hwy 34 from park rapids to Detroit Lakes, this was before they widened the road and cut the trees back. A big cat leaped from the woods, landed about the center line and leaped into the woods on the other side, I couldn’t believe my eyes, at the time I didn’t know what kind of cat it was but did some research and found out it was a cougar.
    A friend that lives in Park Rapids has some land down north of Verndale, he has got pictures on his game camera of them.
    I live north of Park Rapids on the edge of the Paul Bunyan state forest, when I’m outside in my garden late at night I can hear a “woman” screaming in the woods, apparently it’s not a woman it a big cat 😳
    I think there are several of them !

  14. @diamondbackecological

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    One cougar in Minnesota, every redneck right now in Minnesota.." they need to be thinned"
    "There will be no deer"
    "In order to be managed, we have to kill every predator, and pretty much most of the prey animals, because it will give me a feeling of superiority regarding my lower class economic status"…

  27. @donald-420

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    Not something to be messed with. They're not as cute and adorable as they seem. Just don't run if you see one unless you like getting mauled by a 200 lb. cat! Awesome footage! 👍

  28. @ages6592

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    We don’t have cougars in Sweden but we have lynx and there was one who passed by our neighbors backyard which just by a field and the woods. I went on a morning walk a few days later on a small road that runs along the field on the edge of the woods. Just as I was about to head back I saw a roe deer laying dead right on the trail! First I couldn’t see any injury but then I saw small marks on the rump and neck. I called the municipal hunters because it’s a rather frequently used trail, people walk their dogs and bike by a lot so I figured it would be better to move the deer into the woods as there would be birds and flies etc (too heavy for me on my own and uphill quite steep). The hunter said it’s for sure a lynx that killed the deer but got spook and left to come back later.
    I went back later in the day and moved it up a bit into the woods together with my (then) husband. At that point it was still untouched, but the next morning the intestines were gone and half the rump. The next day half the body was gone and the day after it was completely gone.
    The hunters said most likely a female with rather big cubs for the entire deer to be eaten that quickly!

  29. @NancyKleffman

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    Our dnr will be sorry when all the deer our gone think back in time these predators make wolves look like pets who pays the bills deer hunters or poor management sorry to be a h7nter in this state anymore applie at the copper nickel mines good luck

  33. @ronsamborski6230

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    Great video, and the audio is excellent too. The video description gives a lot of details regarding the deer kill, how it was located, etc.
    Thank you for every video you share with us. 👍🏼

  34. @peteblackburn2839

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    Years back, we got stalked by a couger in NE Minnesota's Northlands on a late afternoon hike. It showed itself when it gained the high ground on 2 track logging trail. It lurked in & out of the thicket as it tailed us for nearly a half hour. Wife & I made our way into the highest part of an open clear cut & stood our ground. The cougar dissappearing under a fall color canopy
    🛶🐻NE

  37. @KudaKeileon

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    Wild animals getting to eat is more important than people being able to hunt for sport.

    You don't need the deer. Cougars and wolves do.

    Hoping for more cougar footage <3

  39. @KristinaMaeK

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    Imagine the funding opportunities for your research if you caught him tucking a little napkin under his chin and then pulling out a knife and fork

  41. @Woodswalker96

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    First Oklahoma, then Michigan, and now Minnesota! I can’t wait to see which other state that formerly had mountain lions will start credibly reporting the presence of mountain lions cubs! Awesome footage Voyageurs Wolf Project! I hope y’all get the funding needed to study pumas in your area 🤞🏾

  42. @-Thauma-

    June 9, 2026 at 12:13 pm

    Amazing footage – everyday natural occurrences we humans would never see, if it wasn't for channels like this.
    Thank you so much for sharing ❤

Comments are closed.

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