California Fish and Game Commission votes to designate some mountain lions as threatened species

SACRAMENTO, Calif. () — The California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously Thursday to permanently protect the six groups of mountain lions that live in the Santa Monica and Santa Cruz mountains.

The commission is listing the lions as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act.

The panel’s meeting in Sacramento comes amid a push to protect the approximately 1,4000 mountain lions roaming through Southern California and the Central Coast. The state is home to about 4,170 mountain lions.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife in December submitted a recommendation in favor of the designation.

Another challenge that mountain lions face in the Southland is inbreeding due to restrictions on the land they can roam, which has led to deformities among certain populations.

A wildlife crossing being built over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills aims to address many of those challenges for the species.

P-22, the beloved celebrity mountain lion who lived in Griffith Park for a decade, represented the obstacles his kind faced. He was captured and euthanized in late 2022 due to severe injuries and chronic health problems.

Officials hope that several clans of cougars will be listed under the California Endangered Species Act. However, granting mountain lions threatened species status poses a conundrum when it comes to other endangered animals.

While cougars cannot be hunted for sport under a special act that was set in 1990, they have been euthanized for killing endangered bighorn sheep. Classifying both species as endangered could complicate efforts to protect them.

The commission says the unanimous vote is the best way for safe coexistence for all.

Meanwhile, other opponents say the effort to list mountain lions as endangered could restrict residential and commercial projects.