Mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains

The Santa Monica Mountains mountain range, part of the Transverse Ranges in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, is known for its population of mountain lions (Puma concolor). Mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains are one of only two instances of large wild cats living in a megacity, the other being leopards in Mumbai, India.[1][2] The most notable mountain lion in the range was P-22, which lived in Griffith Park, was photographed in front of the Hollywood Sign, and was featured on the cover of National Geographic.[3]
Area
[edit]
The Santa Monica Mountains extend approximately 40 miles (60 km)[4] from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County.[5] Although heavily developed, much of the range has been preserved as local, state, or national parkland, the largest of which is the 153,075 acres (619.47 km2) Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.[6]
Mountain lions are territorial and require ample acreage to find food and mates. The home range of a single mountain lion can be as large as 128,000 acres (520 km2). The mountain lion area in the Santa Monica Mountains (west of I-405 and south of US-101) can support 10 to 15 lions, not including kittens.[7]
History
[edit]Mountain lions have lived in the Santa Monica Mountains since before the arrival of Europeans[8] (the Gabrieleño/Tongva language word for Puma concolor is tukuurot)[9] and despite the range's relatively small area, the population has remained stable.[1]
Long term survival of mountain lions in the range is threatened by several factors, especially the isolation of their habitat by freeways. This isolation, which started when the Ventura Freeway was constructed in the 1950s and was exacerbated by housing developments alongside it, has led to inbreeding, as the area now has almost no new DNA entering it. Genetic analyses in the 2000s revealed that the Santa Monica Mountains mountain lion population had the second lowest level of genetic diversity ever documented amongst large carnivores in North America, the lowest being Florida panthers in the mid-1990s.[10]

Other threats to the Santa Monica Mountains mountain lion population include wildlife-vehicle collisions, anticoagulant rodenticides, and intraspecific conflict.[11] According to the National Park Service, 32 mountain lions in or near the Santa Monicas were killed by wildlife-vehicle collisions between 2002 and 2022; 28 of 29 mountain lions tested for anticoagulant compounds tested positive, including seven fatal cases; and intraspecific conflict, while common in the species, is exacerbated by the small and now isolated nature of the Santa Monicas.[1][7]

In 2016, researchers from the National Park Service, UCLA, UC Davis, and Utah State University predicted that without significant changes, the Santa Monica Mountains mountain lions could become extinct within 50 years.[12] In 2020, researchers found the first evidence of physical abnormalities in the population.[13] The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which will connect the Santa Monica Mountains across US-101 to the Simi Hills, is meant to prevent this.[14] The crossing, which cost $90 million ($96.7 million in 2024), most of which was raised through private donations, broke ground in 2022.[15] It is expected to be completed in 2026, at which point it will become the largest wildlife crossing in the world.[14][16]
Additional legal protection for mountain lions throughout California was provided in 2020, when the state signed AB 1788 into law. This law prohibits most uses of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides statewide.[17] Hunting is also not a threat to mountain lions, as the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 made the practice illegal throughout California.[18] Since 2002, only one mountain lion is known to have been poached in the Santa Monica Mountains.[7]
Diet
[edit]Mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains primarily dine on mule deer. Of the 400+ documented kills by mountain lions in the area between 2002 and 2014, 95% were mule deer.[19]
Individual mountain lions
[edit]In 2002, the National Park Service began tracking individual mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains and surrounding areas. More than 100 mountain lions have been tracked since.[7]
Santa Monica Mountains
[edit]Notable individuals whose home range was in the Santa Monica Mountains include:[7]

- P-1: The dominant male from 2002 to 2009, the largest and oldest to be tracked, and with P-6 the first documented case of inbreeding in the area.[10] Sometimes referred to as the "king of the mountains."[20] First captured and GPS tracked in 2002, at which point he weighed 150 pounds (68 kg)[21] and was estimated to be five years old,[7] and was possibly killed by P-12 in 2009.[10]
- P-2: P-1's mate who weighed 80 pounds (36 kg)[21] and was killed by P-1 in August 2005 when she tried to protect her offspring from him.[22] Gave birth to:[7]
- P-9 and at least one other (prior to 2004), fathered by P-1
- P-5, P-6, P-7, P-8, and at least one other (2004), fathered by P-1
- P-6: P-2's daughter who repeatedly mated with him. Born and first captured in 2004 and last captured in the summer of 2006. Gave birth to:[7]
- P-10, P-27, and at least two others (around late 2006), fathered by P-6's father P-1
- P-13 (around early 2008), fathered by P-6's father P-1
- P-12: The western end's dominant male from 2009 to 2015 who entered the range, replaced and possibly killed P-1, and provided a genetic rescue.[10][23][24] First captured in Palo Comado Canyon in the Simi Hills in December 2008,[25] at which point he weighed 120 pounds (54 kg).[26] Estimated to be two years old in 2009 and in February 2009, he crossed U.S. 101 near Liberty Canyon and entered the Santa Monica Mountains, the first documented case of a mountain lion doing so.[25][27] Shortly after P-12's arrival, P-1 lost his tracking collar in what appeared to be a fight, possibly with P-12.[10] P-12 took over P-1's western end around this time, primarily residing around Trancas Canyon and Malibu Creek State Park, while P-27, whom P-12 avoided, took over the eastern end.[25] Sired at least eight litters[7] and despite providing a genetic rescue, also contributed the second and third documented cases of inbreeding in the areas, with P-19 and P-23 respectively.[24][25][28] GPS tracker stopped working by 2014, last seen by wildlife cameras in March 2015, and another large male was found in his territory in November 2015.[29]
- P-13: First captured in the summer of 2009, at which point she was estimated to be fifteen months old, and her tracking collar fell off in February 2015.[7] She lived in the western end of the range[30] and was considered the least nocturnal mountain lion in the National Park Service study.[31] Gave birth to:[28]
- P-17, P-18, and P-19 (spring 2010), fathered by P-12
- P-25 and P-26 (late 2011), fathered by P-12
- P-28, P-29, P-30, and P-31 (2013), fathered by P-12

- P-19: P-12's daughter who repeatedly mated with him.[28] Born in spring 2010 and first captured in early 2012,[7] she was repeatedly captured in "photographic poses" on trail cameras,[18] earning her the nicknamed Selfie Cat.[32] Gave birth to:[7]
- P-23 and P-24 (June 2012), fathered by P-19's father P-12
- P-32, P-33, and P-34 (late 2013 or early 2014), fathered by P-19's father P-12
- P-46 and P47 (November 2015), fathered by P-45
- P-70, P-71, P-72, and P-73 (July 2018), possibly fathered by P-19's grandson P-56
- P-85, P-86, and P-87 (June 2020), father unknown

- P-22: Dispersed across I-405, US-101, and into Griffith Park, where he was photographed in front of the Hollywood Sign and featured on the cover of National Geographic,[3] for which he was give the nickname Hollywood Cat[18] and has also been called "the Brad Pitt of mountain lions."[33] First captured in March 2012, at which point he weighed 90 pounds (41 kg) and was estimated to be 1.5 years old, was treated for mange in 2014, ate a koala in the Los Angeles Zoo in 2016, and was euthanized due to multiple injuries and other serious health issues on December 17, 2022.[7] Had the smallest known home range of any mountain lion in the area.[34]
- P-23: P-12's daughter and granddaughter who repeatedly mated with him.[35] Born in June 2012[25] and died in January 2018 due to a wildlife-vehicle collision near Malibu Canyon Road.[7] Gave birth to:[7][36]
- P-36 and P-37 (March 2015), fathered by P-23's grandfather P-12
- P-43, possibly P-53, and at least one other (July 2015), fathered by P-23's grandfather P-12
- P-54 and at least one other (January 2017), possibly fathered by P-23's half-brother P-30
- The second litter's birth being so recent after the first indicates no kittens from the first litter survived.
- P-27: The dominant male from 2013 (or earlier) to 2017 in the range's eastern end.[37] First captured in April 2013, at which point he was estimated to be six years old,[25] and was found dead of unknown causes in September 2017.[7]
- P-45: The dominant male from 2015 to 2019 in the range's western end.[38] Born north of US-101 in 2012 or 2013, first captured in November 2015, and was suspected of killing twelve alpacas in one weekend in November 2016, for which a depredation permit was taken out but never acted upon.[7][39]
- P-47: Was large enough to become a dominant male but died before he established himself as one. Born in November 2015, first captured in January 2017, at which point he weighed 98 pounds (44 kg) and was estimated to be 14 months old, recaptured in January 2018, at which point he weighed 150 pounds (68 kg), and found dead on March 21, 2019, likely due to anticoagulant poisoning.[7][40]
- P-53: P-12's daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter who possibly mated with him.[23] Most likely born in the summer of 2014, first captured in July 2016, treated for mange in March 2019, and died in August 2019 likely due to anticoagulant poisoning.[7][41]
- P-54: Born in January 2017, first captured in February 2017, and died by wildlife-vehicle collision on Malibu Canyon Road in June 2022. She was pregnant with four kittens at the time of her death. Gave birth to:[7][42]
- P-82, P-83, and P-84 (May 2020), likely fathered by P-63
- at least two kittens (October 2020), father unknown
- The second litter's birth being so recent after the first indicates no kittens from the first litter survived.

- P-65: Spent much of her time near the coast, earning her the nickname Coastal Cat. First captured in March 2018, rejected the attempted adoption of P-91 and P-92 in 2020, and was found on March 4, 2022 at an estimated five years of age. She was the first mountain lion in the National Park Service study to die from complications of mange, and she also was emaciated and tested positive for anticoagulant rodenticides and a neurotoxic rodenticide at the time of her death. Gave birth to:[7][43]
- P-88, P-89, and P-90 (June or July 2020), likely fathered by P-63
- P-74: Likely died in the Woolsey Fire in November 2018, possibly with his untracked mother. First tracked in September 2018 and was estimated to be 18 months old at the time of his death.[7][44]
- P-80: First captured on January 10, 2020, at which point she weighed 82 pounds (37 kg) and was estimated to be five or six years old. Gave birth to:[7][45]
- at least one kitten (prior to 2020), father unknown
- P-93 and P-94 (July or August 2020), likely fathered by P-63
- P-107 and P-108 (July or August 2022), father unknown
- P-81: Had physical abnormalities, including a kinked tail and one undescended testicle. First captured on March 4, 2020, at which point he weighed 95 pounds (43 kg) and was estimated to be 1.5 years old, and died on January 22, 2023, most likely due to a wildlife-vehicle collision on Pacific Coast Highway.[7][46]
- P-98: Attacked a 5-year-old boy, the first verified occurrence of a mountain lion attacking a human in Los Angeles County in more than 25 years, and was subsequently killed by a wildlife officer on August 26, 2021, the same day as the attack. First discovered in the winter of 2020, at which point he was estimated to be three months old, first captured on August 26, 2021, and weighed 65 pounds (29 kg) at the time of his death.[7][47]
Surrounding areas
[edit]There are additional mountain lions in the areas surrounding the Santa Monica Mountains, particularly in the Santa Susana Mountains. Some of them originate from the Santa Monicas; others approached the Santa Monicas but turned back rather than attempting to cross US-101; and even more have no connection to the Santa Monicas other than living near them. These mountain lions include:[7]
- P-3 and P-4: Daughter and mother who separately regularly crossed SR-118 between the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains. Either or both may have originated in the Santa Monicas.[7] P-3 was first captured in the summer of 2003, P-4 in the winter of 2004, and both died of anticoagulant poisoning, P-3 in the fall of 2004 and P-4 in the winter of 2004.[7][25]
- P-16: Dominant male in the Los Padres National Forest near Lake Piru, just north of the Santa Susanas.[7] First captured in May 2010, at which point he was estimated to be 1.5 to 3 years old.[25] Tracking collar removed in January 2014.[7]
- P-32 and P-33: Siblings who separately were the first two tracked mountain lions to disperse out of the Santa Monicas to the north.[48] Both were born in the winter of 2013/2014 and P-32 died attempting to cross I-5 in August 2015 while P-33 was found dead from unknown causes in July 2018.[7] P-32 successfully crossed US 101, SR 23, SR 118, and SR 126 before being killed while crossing I-5,[49] while P-33 crossed US 101 but did not attempt to cross SR 23.[50]
- P-35: First captured in April 2014 near Oat Mountain. Gave birth to:[7]
- P-44 (July 2015), fathered by P-38
- P-48 and P-49 (June 2016), fathered by P-38
- at least one kitten (unknown), father unknown
- P-38: Dominant male in the Santa Susana Mountains. Born in 2012, first caught in March 2015, fathered at least four litters, and died by illegal gunshot in June or July 2019,[7][51] for which the perpetrator pled guilty to unlawfully taking a protected mammal; sentenced to 60 days in jail, 240 hours of community service, and 3 years probation; and fined $2,400 ($2,952 in 2024) for damaging P-38's tracking collar.[51]
- P-39: Born in 2011 or 2012, first captured in April 2015, and died by wildlife-vehicle collision on SR-118 in early December 2016. Gave birth to:[7][52]
- P-40 (late fall 2014) and at least one other, fathered by P-39
- P-50, P-51, and P-52 (June 2016), fathered by P-39
- P-41: First mountain lion tracked to the Verdugo Mountains,[53] where he had the second smallest known home range in the area, after P-22.[34] First captured in May 2015, at which point he was estimated to be eight years old, and was found dead from unknown causes on October 4, 2017.[7][34] Weighed 130 pounds (59 kg).[30]
- P-62: First captured with her daughter P-63 at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in the Simi Hills in February 2018, at which point she was estimated to be three or four years old. Gave birth to:[7]
- P-63 and at least one other (late 2016), possibly fathered by P-64
- P-66, P-67, P-68, and P-69 (June 2018), father unknown
- P-63: repeatedly crossed US-101 using a method unknown to researchers[54] Born in late 2016, first captured with his mother P-62 at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in the Simi Hills in February 2018, at which point he was estimated to be fifteen months old, and last captured on January 26, 2021.[7]

- P-64: Learned to use a culvert to safely and repeatedly cross US-101,[55] for which he was nicknamed Culvert Cat.[56] First captured in February 2018, at which point he was estimated to be three or four years old, and died shortly after the Woolsey Fire in November 2018.[7]
- P-91 and P-92: siblings whose mother died when they were kittens and after an unsuccessful foster attempt with P-65 were relocated to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, Arizona.[57] First captured as kittens on July 7, 2020.[7]
- P-101 and P-103: Siblings who were relocated to the Orange County Zoo after being abandoned by their mother. Two additional siblings (P-100 and P-102) did not survive the abandonment.[58] First captured as kittens on November 30, 2021.[7]
- P-106: Has a kinked tail, possibly due to a genetic abnormality, despite living in the un-isolated Santa Susanas.[59] First captured on August 3, 2022, at which point she weighed 91 pounds (41 kg) and was estimated to be six years old.[7][60]
See also
[edit]- Asiatic lion § Distribution and habitat
- BB-12 (black bear)
- Fauna of the Santa Monica Mountains
- List of wild animals from Los Angeles
- Urban coyote
- Urban red foxes
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Lions in the Santa Monica Mountains". National Park Service. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ Larson, Christina; Ghosal, Aniruddha (June 30, 2022). "Big cats in urban jungle: LA mountain lions, Mumbai leopards". Associated Press.
- ^ a b Dell'Amore, Christine (December 14, 2022). "How this photo turned a reclusive mountain lion into a Hollywood icon". National Geographic. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022.
- ^ "Santa Monica Mountains". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ "The Largest Urban Park In The USA". Santa Monica Mountains Fund. May 23, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ "Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Frequently Asked Questions". National Park Service. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao "Puma Profiles". National Park Service. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ Guerin, Emily (August 30, 2016). "Will the mountain lions of the Santa Monica Mountains die out?". LAist.
- ^ Stone, Erin (April 12, 2025). "Wildlife is returning to the Altadena foothills after the Eaton Fire. Yes, that's a mountain lion". LAist. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Stokstad, Erik (August 14, 2014). "The real mountain lions of LA County". Science.
- ^ Sahagún, Louis (February 2, 2023). "California is turning mountain lions into roadkill faster than they can reproduce". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Local Mountain Lion Population Faces Precipitous Decline in Genetic Diversity Within 50 Years, Possible Extinction". National Park Service. August 30, 2016.
- ^ Carlson, Cheri (September 9, 2020). "Mountain lion found in Santa Monica Mountains might be first with physical abnormalities". Ventura County Star. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Jaynes, Cristen Hemingway (April 14, 2022). "World's largest wildlife crossing will soon stretch across California's Highway 101". World Economic Forum.
- ^ "California groundbreaking set for largest wildlife crossing". Associated Press. March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ "World's largest wildlife crossing on track to open by early 2026". State of California. May 7, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ "Support California Assembly Bill 1788". Mountain Lion Foundation. September 29, 2020.
- ^ a b c Pratt, Beth (2016). When Mountain Lions Are Neighbors. Heydey Books. ISBN 978-1-59714-638-8.
- ^ "Mountain Lion Family Feast Caught on Camera". NBC News. March 3, 2014.
- ^ "Life and Death of P-22 L.A.'s Most Famous Mountain Lion". Los Angeles Almanac. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
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- ^ "Female mountain lion collared in SM Mountains". Santa Monica Daily Press. August 13, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Mountain lions inbreeding". Los Angeles Times. January 8, 2014.
- ^ Smythe, Ryan (December 4, 2015). "National Parks Service Surprised by Mountain Lion in Santa Monica Mountains". NBC Los Angeles.
- ^ a b Kirchner, Jane (January 6, 2016). "Meet the Real Cougars (Mountain Lions) of L.A." National Park Service.
- ^ Kerlin, Kat (November 15, 2024), Mountain Lions Coexist with Outdoor Recreationists by Taking the Night Shift, University of California Davis
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- ^ Greenfield, Patrick (February 22, 2020). "Can there be a Hollywood ending for the 'Brad Pitt of mountain lions'?". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c Fonseca, Ryan (December 20, 2017). "Mountain lion P-41, found dead in October, had rat poison in his system". Los Angeles Daily News.
- ^ "4 New Mountain Lion Kittens Discovered In Santa Monica Mountains". KCAL News. September 5, 2018.
- ^ Behrens, Zach (December 16, 2015). "Another Surprise from P-23". National Park Service.
- ^ Fonseca, Ryan (October 26, 2017). "Well-known LA mountain lion dead, new male found in Santa Monica Mountains". Los Angeles Daily News.
- ^ Smythe, Ryan (December 4, 2015). "National Parks Service Surprised by Mountain Lion in Santa Monica Mountains". NBC Los Angeles.
- ^ "What happened to mountain lion P-45?". Mountain Lion Foundation. June 18, 2019.
- ^ Bloom, Tracy (April 30, 2019). "Mountain Lion P-47 Found Dead in Santa Monica Mountains; Rat Poison Suspected: NPS". KTLA.
- ^ Fonseca, Ryan (October 8, 2019). "Two More LA Mountain Lions Have Died And Both Had Rat Poison In Their Systems". LAist.
- ^ "Mountain lion was pregnant with 4 kittens when she was killed by car in Calabasas, biologists say". ABC7. September 8, 2022.
- ^ Powells, Darlene (October 2, 2022). "Mountain lion P-65 found dead from complications of mange in the Santa Monica Mountains". CBS News.
- ^ Wisckol, Martin (November 27, 2018). "Woolsey fire likely killed young P-74 mountain lion". Los Angeles Daily News.
- ^ Catanzaro, Sam (January 30, 2020). "Mother Puma Discovered in Santa Monica Mountains". Palisades News.
- ^ "P-81 First Mountain Lion Found With Genetic Abnormalities In Santa Monica Mountains". CBS News. September 9, 2020.
- ^ Salahieh, Nouran; McGraw, Jennifer (August 28, 2021). "Mountain lion killed after attacking 5-year-old boy in his front yard near Calabasas". KTLA.
- ^ Serna, Joseph (May 16, 2018). "Mountain lions are being killed on freeways and weakened by inbreeding. Researchers have a solution". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Totten, Sanden (August 13, 2015). "P-32: Mountain lion who crossed the 101 killed crossing I-5". LAist.
- ^ Hewitt, Alison (May 4, 2015). "Behind the scenes with a Los Angeles mountain lion expert". University of California.
- ^ a b Childs, Jeremy (October 3, 2019). "Simi Valley man pleads guilty to killing mountain lion P-38". Ventura County Star.
- ^ "Mountain lion killed on 118 Freeway in Simi". Simi Valley Acorn. December 16, 2016.
- ^ Groves, Martha (May 29, 2015). "Meet the Verdugo Mountains' very own mountain lion: P-41". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "3 mountain lion kittens born in Santa Monica Mountains". ABC News. June 4, 2020.
- ^ "How the deaths of mountain lions have some worried about losing them entirely from the Santa Monicas". KCLU. June 23, 2023.
- ^ Wisckol, Martin (December 7, 2018). "P-64, a.k.a Culvert Cat, is the 2nd mountain lion thought to be killed by the Woolsey fire". Los Angeles Daily News.
- ^ "2 orphaned mountain lion kittens from Simi Hills sent to sanctuary after failed foster attempt". ABC News. October 2, 2020.
- ^ Hall, Carla (December 10, 2021). "The short, sad life of the mountain lion kitten known as P-100". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Mountain Lion Litter Born in Santa Monica Mountains". Santa Monica Mirror. December 9, 2022.
- ^ "Meet the 4 new mountain lion kittens prowling the Santa Monica Mountains". ABC7. December 13, 2022.