"The mountain lion population in Southern California and the Central Coast is now officially classified as a threatened species in California after years of issues with the animals and humans alike. A San Francisco mountain lion, or 157M as he was originally named, caught the attention of the entire city during his prowl in January and raised awareness about the problems. 157M is back in the wild and the environmental leaders want to keep him there safely."
""Mountain lions obviously are an iconic California species, with decades of protections and public interest," CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Acting Director Valerie Termini said. "They evoke strong and varied perceptions on management, but the segment of the population we're talking about today is clearly at risk." Those at risk would be the cats that specifically call the Santa Monica Hills and Santa Cruz Mountains home."
"The biggest threat to mountain lions is habitat loss, which leads to isolated populations and increased suburban sightings. "Additional threats, such as vehicle strikes, rodenticide exposure and diseases, have the potential to further depress the size of these small populations, exacerbating their exposure to demographic and environmental random events and the effects of inbreeding depression," said CADFW Sr. Environmental Scientist Daniel Applebee."
The California Fish and Game Commission voted to list mountain lions from Southern California and the Central Coast as a threatened species. Protections will target cats in the Santa Monica Hills and Santa Cruz Mountains and aim to minimize harms from development and encourage measures such as wildlife crossings. The decision responds to habitat loss that isolates populations and increases suburban sightings. Additional threats include vehicle strikes, rodenticide exposure and disease, which can further reduce small populations and increase inbreeding risks. The listing faces opposition from some farmers who fear increased restrictions on management.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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