For the first time in more than a century, wild cougar cubs have been discovered living in Michigan.

According to freep.com, the 7- to 9-week-old cubs were discovered on private land in the western Upper Peninsula. A local resident photographed them.

Brian Roell, a large carnivore specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says this is the first verification of cougar cubs in the state since the big cats were hunted out of existence in Michigan in the early 1900s.

“It’s pretty exciting, considering this could be the first known cougar reproduction in modern times in the western Great Lakes states,” Roell said in a news release. “It really shows that we have a unique place in Michigan where someone has a chance to see a wolf, a moose and a cougar in the wild. It’s something that should be celebrated, that we have the habitat to support an elusive animal like this.”

In recent years, the DNR has verified 132 adult cougar reports, but to this point, DNA testing has only been able to confirm male animals. Cougars are on Michigan’s endangered mammals list, meaning it’s illegal to hunt or harass them, which includes trying to locate their den.

The cubs have not been spotted since March 6.

“Those young cougars are very vulnerable right now,” Roell said. “We don’t know where they are or if they’re even alive. Mother Nature can be very cruel.”

Sightings can be logged in the DNR’s Eyes in the Field reporting system.

For the latest information on cougars, including the DNR’s cougar sightings photo page, visit Michigan.gov/Cougar.