California Fish and Wildlife says the body of another mountain lion, P-81, was found Sunday, Jan. 22, on Pacific Coast Highway near Point Mugu. It looks like he was hit by a vehicle.
Why it matters
Getting around an increasingly urban landscape has proved deadly to many of Southern California’s big cats. Our busy freeway system has pinned in mountain lions, bobcats, deer and other wildlife in the Santa Monica Mountains for years. That’s led to inbreeding — and the threat of eventual extinction. Officials said P-81 had signs of inbreeding including a kinked tail and only one descended testicle.
What’s being done about it
The latest death is proof that breaking out of the mountains is a dangerous journey. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is now under construction in Agoura Hills. It’s like a natural walking path for critters that want to get safely across the busy 101 Freeway and head for open space to the north.
A rendering of what the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Corridor will look like upon completion. Also known as the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing (named for one of its largest donors), the project will provide safe passage over the 101 freeway at a dangerous bottleneck for animals.
(Courtesy of Living Habitats)
Why now
Being struck by a car is the leading cause of death for mountain lions being studied in the Santa Monica Mountains. Nine have died…
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