TWIN LAKES — Two mountain lions were reportedly seen crossing Lance Drive near Highway O late last month.

It is the first time two have allegedly been spotted together in the state.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Marty Johnson said there have been numerous, unconfirmed reports of mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas, roaming the area over the past year. But this is the first multiple sighting.

“That was the thing that struck me about this report,” Johnson said. “Cougars are generally solitary animals.”

Johnson said if there are two traveling together, they would most likely be a mother and a cub. This could suggest there are resident cougars in the area.

“Our belief is we don’t have a resident population; only the possibility of transients coming through here,” Johnson said.

A resident called the Twin Lakes Police Department at 7:14 p.m. Oct. 23 to report both he and his son saw the cougars. The police informed the DNR, which tallies reports of “rare mammal observations” and looks for tracks and other evidence in an attempt to confirm the sightings.

No information about possible evidence of the recent Twin Lakes sightings was available Tuesday. Johnson said he plans to contact the warden who took the report for an update.

Native to state

The mountain lion once included all of Wisconsin in its range. It is one of three wild cats native to the state, along with the bobcat and the Canada lynx. Bobcats are the only known breeding wild cats in the state.

According to information from the DNR, the last known resident cougar was killed in 1908. However, since 1975, many sightings have been reported. In 2008, 177 cougar sightings were reported in the state in 40 counties. Of those reports, 79 were determined to not be from a cougar, while the rest are considered either possible or probable sightings.

The first confirmed sightings in more than 100 years were reported in January 2008, in Milton, and in March 2009, in Spooner.

The Milton mountain lion was confirmed by its tracks as well as a DNA test of blood from a cut on its foot. Genetic testing showed this cougar was later shot in Chicago. The cougar is listed as a “protected wild animal” in Wisconsin, which prohibits it from being killed without a permit.

Cougar tracks

Cougar tracks are between 2.7 and 4 inches long and between 2.8 and 4.5 inches wide, show no claws and are round in appearance. It is the largest wild cat in North America, north of Mexico. Adult males typically weigh between 115 and 160 pounds. Females typically weigh between 75 and 110 pounds.

The DNR also has tested scat, or waste droppings, found near sightings and tracks, in an attempt to confirm the presence of cougar. Such a test was conducted on scat found in Union Grove earlier this year, which showed it came from a dog, not a cougar.

Johnson said no photographs and no evidence of cougars feeding in the area have been provided with any of the reported sightings.

The DNR has a rare mammal observation reporting form available on its Web site. To access the Web site, go to http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife. Anyone with information, photos or evidence of mountain lions locally should call the DNR at 262-884-2391.