Eau Claire, Wis. (WEAU) -- The latest cougar in Western Wisconsin was last spotted near Hawkins in Rusk County after first being spotted around Mauston in Juneau County. With the gun deer season kicks off this weekend, the DNR is asking hunters to help track the animal while it's still in Wisconsin.

The DNR thinks most likely the cougar has continued to head north and could be somewhere around the Flambeau National Forest, but the only way they can know for sure is by collecting evidence from the public.

"It's been the public that has made us aware of the cougars in the state. Most times its cougars that have been caught on a trail camera by an individual and they let us know about that photo," explained Kris Belling, supervisor of the Western Wisconsin Wildlife Management Program.

The DNR has used those photos to determine it has been this same cougar from the unique markings on the animal. In the past they have used genetic information like blood samples or scat. The cougar is a protected animal so you can't shoot one unless it is a case of self defense.

"The general advice is the same with most large predators. You don't want to run. You want to stand and face the critter and look as large as you can, open up your coat. Try and make a big silhouette and make some loud noise and encourage him to move away," says Ed Culhane of the DNR.

Belling says this is the sixth cougar seen in the state over the past three years. Before that a sighting hadn't been documented since the 1800s. "the animals we're aware of in the state as far as we know have all been young males and with any wildlife that is the segment of the population that's most like to take off and travel a longer distance looking for a new territory."

The DNR says these cougars are likely from the black hills of South Dakota, a prominent cougar habitat. The surrounding area of the black hills however is not a good habitat for cougars.

"So as that population of cougars has pretty much colonized that area of the black hills and as cougars keep being produced each year, the young males need to go in search of new territory," says Culhane.

If you do get a picture of a cougar footprint, the DNR says put a quarter or some object next to it so they have a size reference. The link below is from the DNR and has more information on cougars and how to identify their footprints. Any information you have on the cougar, you can call your local DNR office.

Cougar Resources from the DNR

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NEWS RELEASE-A cougar ranging through west central and northern Wisconsin likely has tripped a trail camera for a third time, leading biologists to believe it is heading into the Northwoods just in time for the annual gun deer hunt.

State wildlife officials are asking hunters to report any sightings of the young, wild cougar. Based on the times and locations of the three photographs, it could be in the Flambeau State Forest or in heavily wooded Price County by now.

The state Department of Natural Resources also is reminding hunters that the cougar is a protected animal in Wisconsin. It can only be shot in self defense or to prevent harm to another human being, situations that would be considered extremely unlikely but not impossible.

The cougar, which appears to be a young male in search of territory and a mate, was photographed Nov. 8 by a trail camera located near the Rusk-Taylor county line, just east of Hawkins and south of U.S. Highway 8.

Previously, a young cougar was photographed Oct. 20 by a trail camera near the community of Pray in eastern Jackson County. Four days earlier, it was captured by a trail camera near Mauston in Juneau County. The two locations are about 42 miles apart. Cougar sightings are tracked on the DNR website.

Adrian Wydeven, DNR mammalian ecologist, said the pattern of spots and markings on the animal in the first and second photographs appears to be the same. From Pray to Hawkins, where the third photograph was taken 21 days after the second, is about 80 miles. Assuming it is the same animal – and it does have similar markings on its rear legs – it averaged about 3.8 miles a day.

To report a cougar sighting please contact the nearest DNR office or take advantage of the DNR’s rare mammal observation form located online. This page can be easily located by going to the Cougars in Wisconsin page of the DNR website (type the word “cougar” in the search box).

Also, biologists would be interested in photographs of the cougar’s tracks. Pictures of tracks should include a ruler or other measuring tool in the frame. Advice for gathering and protecting any biological samples can be found at the same location online. The DNR should be contacted before any samples are shipped.