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California's mountain lions are in need of help, and several populations may just get it with protection under the state's Endangered Species Act following a recommendation from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to list them as threatened.

Yet the change must still be voted on by the California Fish and Game Commission, which is expected to happen on February 11 or 12. Urge commissioners to protect these vulnerable big cats!

Mountain lions in California were once abundant, but sadly faced heavy persecution, even targeted by bounty programs in the early 1900s that lasted to 1963, which caused the loss of 12,580 individuals. But even after that ended, hunters could kill them year-round in unlimited numbers. Views on how they should be treated have varied considerably since then. In 1970, they were listed as a game species, which required licenses and tags, until concerns about them led to a moratorium on hunting in 1972. That lasted until 1986, when they were once again designated as a game species.

Things changed again in 1990, when citizens voted to pass Proposition 117, which classified them as a specially-protected mammal. Unfortunately, even with that, mountain lions have continued to face heavy pressure from numerous threats, including vehicle strikes, competition, disease, the use of rodenticides, wildfires, and habitat loss and fragmentation, which have led to inbreeding and decreased genetic diversity.

The story of iconic mountain lion P-22 put a face to many of these dangers. He rose to fame after being photographed in front of the Hollywood Sign, made further headlines for crossing major freeways in Los Angeles, and survived rodenticide poisoning, which helped galvanize support for the plight of this species and the creation of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. Its construction will help many more like him and other species far into the future.

Yet now there's more hope for their survival. In response to a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and Mountain Lion Foundation in 2019, which we supported with an alert, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to move forward on candidacy, which triggered a review by the CDFW to determine if they should be listed. The agency has finally recommended protecting the Southern California and Central Coast mountain lion populations under the California Endangered Species Act.

This protection would legally mandate state agencies to take steps to address threats they face, which should include improving habitat connectivity, protecting habitats important to them, and working to reduce human causes of mortality, among other measures.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Agenda Item 17 – Mountain Lions (Central Coast and Southern California)

As someone concerned with wild animals, I am writing to urge you to vote to adopt the recommendations of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to protect Southern California and Central Coast mountain lions under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).
 
I strongly support the agency’s recommendations to list these populations as threatened, and urge you to vote in agreement to ensure the survival of these big cats, who aren’t just inherently valuable, but whose presence will help preserve biodiversity.
 
While they were aided by the passage of Proposition 117, which classified them as a specially-protected mammal, mountain lions have continued to face heavy pressure from numerous threats, including vehicle strikes, disease, competition, the use of rodenticides, wildfires, and habitat loss and fragmentation, which have led to inbreeding and decreased genetic diversity.
 
The Southern California and Central Coast mountain lions proposed as a DPS for listing as threatened under CESA are particularly vulnerable to these threats, which has raised concerns that they could become locally extinct, especially considering they are solitary and territorial and need vast areas to roam.
 
I support recommendations in the status review to include measures that would maintain and enhance landscape connectivity, protect and enhance important patches of habitat from development, and reduce human-related causes of mortality.
 
I further hope action will be taken through a recovery plan to build wildlife corridors, reduce conflicts, and restrict the use of rodenticides.
 
I hope you will follow the best available science and vote to protect these iconic big cats under CESA to ensure their survival.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.