Southern California has long cherished its wildlife, and few animals captured public affection like P-22, the famous mountain lion who roamed the Hollywood Hills for over a decade before dying in 2023 after a car accident.
Protecting the Big Cats
The California Fish and Game Commission recently voted to classify mountain lions from the Santa Cruz Mountains to Southern California as threatened under the state’s Endangered Species Act. This designation will offer the cats stronger protections for their habitats. Beth Pratt, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, explained that urban development and freeways have left these lions genetically isolated, leading to inbreeding and, in some cases, cubs born with birth defects. “They need to be able to get dates outside their family, and that’s not what’s happening now,” Pratt said, humorously noting that “any mountain lion south of the 101… the only options on mountain lion Tinder are selections within their family tree.”
Balancing Conservation and Development
The new protections have raised concerns among developers and landowners. Some argued that the classification could require costly mitigation studies, potentially slowing construction in a state already facing a housing crisis. Kirk Wilbur, representing the California Cattlemen’s Association, expressed worries about the lions preying on livestock. Officials clarified that the threatened status doesn’t prevent interventions in rare conflicts between mountain lions and people or farm animals.
A Public Call for Coexistence
Pratt highlighted the public’s strong support for keeping mountain lions in California’s landscapes. “Californians have spoken, whether it be P-22, or the Annenberg crossing, we want mountain lions in the landscape for the future,” she said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining healthy populations of these iconic predators alongside human communities.
