Author: Chris Hays

America’s Lion Share – February 12, 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of America’s Lions Share, your monthly update on the stories, science, and people shaping the future of mountain lion conservation.

Mountain lions in Southern California and along the Central Coast are facing a pivotal moment.

After years of scientific research into population health, habitat fragmentation, and emerging threats, state wildlife officials are now considering whether these regional populations should be listed as Threatened under California law. The decision reflects growing evidence that some mountain lion populations are becoming smaller, more isolated, and more vulnerable — and that acting now could make a meaningful difference for their future. A long-building, science-driven decision  On February 12th, California’s Fish and Game Commission is considering whether mountain lions in the Southern California and Central Coast region should be listed as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). This decision represents the culmination of a multi-year, science-driven process that began with a formal petition in 2019 and led to a comprehensive status review conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). That review, together with public input, now informs a pivotal moment for some of the state’s most vulnerable mountain lion populations. 

See What Threatened Status Means

COEXISTENCE IN ACTION

In a recent article examining record cougar reports in Michigan, MLF Chief Conservation and Advocacy Officer Byron Weckworth was quoted on the broader context behind increased sightings and public awareness. The story highlights how expanding data, better reporting tools, and changing landscapes are shaping the way communities experience and understand large carnivores.

Read the full article
In this thoughtful Voices commentary from Utah, a sheep producer reflects on living with mountain lions — even after losing livestock to predation.  His perspective highlights the complex realities of coexistence on working lands.
Read More
Subpopulations of mountain lions in California face mounting threats, including habitat fragmentation, and rodenticide poisoning. Loren Elliott, a photojournalist for The New York Times, shows how he documents these elusive animals.
Watch the Video
Why Facts Matter in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is playing an expanding role in conservation — from helping scientists analyze vast datasets to improving wildlife monitoring at unprecedented scales. At the same time, AI is reshaping how wildlife is portrayed online. Increasingly realistic images and videos, some authentic and others entirely fabricated, are influencing how people understand animals, their behavior, and the risks they pose.
 
For species like mountain lions, these portrayals matter. Exaggerated or misleading content can quietly reinforce fear, blur the line between evidence and fiction, and shape public attitudes and policy in ways that aren’t grounded in science.
 
The linked essay below explores both the promise and the pitfalls of AI in wildlife conservation, raising important questions about perception, trust, and responsibility. At the Mountain Lion Foundation, our work is guided by facts over fear and science-based conservation — because coexistence depends on informed understanding, especially as new technologies shape how wildlife stories are told.
 
🔗 Read the Essay

My Mountain Lion Story – Subscriber Submissions

It was exactly one year since my mother had died, and I was “conversing” with her in Picture Rocks Wash, with my eyes on Wasson Peak in the Tucson Mountains.

Two pale flashes in my left peripheral vision. I said, “Hold on Momma, I need to check this out.” I lowered my view to rest upon the eyes of the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. All I could see was her very large head, peeping from the vegetation approximately 15 feet away from me. Her ears were up and forward, and she looked perfectly calm and curious.

I do not know how long we gazed upon each other, it felt like minutes but may have been mere seconds until I reached down to pick up my little dog.

The mountain lion did not waver in her gaze, and I knew in a way that defies explanation that I had been looking into the eyes of god. Spirit, if you will.

That was 21 years ago and the encounter changed me in ways that reverberate in my heart to this day.

– Alexa Jenks

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Because when it comes to coexistence, there is no such thing as saying it too often.
 
With gratitude,

Ellen C. O’Connell
Executive Director
Mountain Lion Foundation

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California Fish and Game Commission voted to grant Threatened Status

This is a meaningful moment for mountain lions in Southern California and along the Central Coast. 

The California Fish and Game Commission voted to grant Threatened Status under the California Endangered Species Act — recognizing mounting scientific evidence that these regional populations face serious and ongoing risks.   

Executive Director Ellen O’Connell shared: 

“This is a decision rooted in science and foresight. Mountain lions remain an iconic and essential part of California’s natural heritage, but in parts of Southern and Central Coast California, populations have become increasingly fragmented and vulnerable. Acting now gives these lions a better chance at long-term survival.” 

This decision follows years of research showing that several populations in the region are small, genetically isolated, and facing compounding pressures from habitat fragmentation, vehicle strikes, rodenticide exposure, wildfire, and human-caused mortality. 

Threatened status does not declare crisis — it recognizes warning signs while we still have options. 

“Southern and Central Coast mountain lions are not gone, and that is precisely why this moment matters.” 

Threatened status will strengthen habitat connectivity planning, reduce preventable human-caused mortality, and support long-term recovery strategies that benefit both wildlife and communities.  

This decision demonstrates California’s commitment to science-based stewardship — and to ensuring that future generations inherit a landscape where mountain lions still roam. But this is not the end of the work. It is the beginning of implementation.

Support the Next Phase of Conservation

Thursday’s vote was a critical step — but meaningful protections only work when they are fully implemented. 

From advancing wildlife crossings to reducing preventable mortality and strengthening habitat planning, the work begins now. If you’re able, please consider making a one-time gift to help ensure these protections translate into real-world results. 

Support Science & Advocacy

Why “Threatened” Status Matters for Southern and Central Coast Mountain Lions 

by Byron Weckworth, Chief Conservation and Advocacy Officer

A long-building, science-driven decision 

On February 12th, California’s Fish and Game Commission is considering whether mountain lions in the Southern California and Central Coast region should be listed as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). This decision represents the culmination of a multi-year, science-driven process that began with a formal petition in 2019 and led to a comprehensive status review conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). That review, together with public input, now informs a pivotal moment for some of the state’s most vulnerable mountain lion populations.

How the CESA listing process works, and why it matters 

CESA is often misunderstood as a tool used only when a species is on the brink of extinction. In practice, it is designed to act earlier than that. When a petition is submitted, the Commission first evaluates whether there is enough credible information to suggest that listing may be warranted. If so, the species becomes a candidate, triggering a full scientific review by CDFW. That review examines population trends, genetics, habitat conditions, threats, and existing management. The resulting recommendation is then released for public comment before the Commission weighs a final decision. Science leads this process, but transparency and public engagement are core features throughout. 

What “Threatened” really means 

The term threatened can sound more reassuring, or more alarming, than it should. Under CESA, a threatened species is one that is not yet endangered but is likely to become so in the foreseeable future if current conditions persist. It is a recognition of risk, not stability. Listing at this stage acknowledges that real threats are already affecting a population, while also affirming that there is still an opportunity to change course before losses become deeper, more expensive, or impossible to reverse. 

Why these populations deserve special attention 

This decision is not about mountain lions statewide, nor is it about defining a new subspecies. It is about recognizing that Southern and Central Coast mountain lions function as distinct regional populations shaped by geography and human land use. Freeways, urban development, and fragmented habitat have increasingly limited their ability to move across the landscape. While mountain lions are highly adaptable, their long-term survival depends on connectivity; on being able to disperse, find mates, and maintain healthy genetic exchange. In much of coastal and Southern California, those connections are increasingly constrained. 

Fragmentation is only part of the story 

Loss of connectivity is the central challenge facing Southern and Central Coast mountain lions, but it does not act alone. Vehicle strikes are a leading cause of mortality in several coastal regions, particularly where highways intersect known movement corridors. Management removals following conflicts with livestock or pets can further destabilize populations by disproportionately removing breeding adults. Less visible, but well documented, is widespread exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides, which move through the food web and weaken immune function, increasing vulnerability to disease and injury. Wildfire, climate-driven shifts in prey, and continued development at the urban-wilderness interface further compound these risks. 

What the science is telling us 

CDFW’s status review identifies multiple genetically distinct mountain lion populations within the petitioned area, many of them small and partially isolated. While estimates suggest roughly 1,400 lions across the broader petitioned region, the more important finding is how those animals are distributed. Some populations are effectively functioning as islands. Genetic analyses reveal reduced diversity and low effective population sizes, scientific measures that serve as an early warning sign of long-term vulnerability. In several areas, researchers have already documented physical indicators of inbreeding, underscoring that these risks are not hypothetical. 

What’s at stake, and what Threatened status makes possible 

A Threatened designation does not signal the end of the story, but rather marks a shift in how seriously we need to respond. Listing brings stronger planning requirements, closer scrutiny of development and infrastructure decisions, and greater accountability for reducing preventable human-caused mortality. It creates a framework for addressing habitat connectivity and long-term population health before recovery becomes far more difficult. For mountain lions, it offers a path toward resilience. For people, it reflects a choice to act with foresight and to respond to warning signs while meaningful options still exist. 

Help protect the future of California’s mountain lions

Science-based advocacy, policy engagement, and public education make moments like this possible. Your support helps ensure mountain lion conservation decisions are guided by research, transparency, and long-term thinking.

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America’s Lion Share – January 13, 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of America’s Lions Share, your monthly update on the stories, science, and people shaping the future of mountain lion conservation.

A leading voice for America’s Lion since 1986

A Letter from the Board Chair 

In 2026, the Mountain Lion Foundation marks a milestone: forty years as one of the nation’s leading voices for America’s lion. 

Since 1986, with your support, we have helped secure landmark protections, advanced science-based conservation, and reshaped how people across the country think about living alongside wildlife. That legacy belongs to the advocates, scientists, donors, volunteers, and partners who believed—often against long odds—that mountain lions deserve a future in the wild. 

Today, that work is more urgent than ever. Habitat fragmentation, accelerating development, climate pressures, and political headwinds are placing unprecedented strain on mountain lion populations and the landscapes they depend on. Too often, fear-based narratives and outdated management approaches continue to drive policy—undermining solutions that can protect both people and wildlife. 

As we enter our fifth decade, the Mountain Lion Foundation is focused on increasing our impact and reach. We will continue strong advocacy and legislative engagement at the state and national levels, working to ensure wildlife policy is grounded in sound science, ethical management, and long-term conservation outcomes. We are also committed to supporting and translating research to inform better decision-making and more effective conservation strategies. 

At the same time, we recognize that conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife. Equally central to our work is expanding coexistence programs that equip communities with practical, science-based tools to live safely alongside mountain lions—through clearer public-facing materials, strengthened education initiatives, and outreach that replaces fear with understanding. In partnership with other organizations, we are working to correct misinformation and elevate balanced, fact-based narratives about mountain lions and their role in healthy ecosystems. 

Going forward, we will emphasize collaboration with state, federal, and local agencies to advance pragmatic conservation programs that prioritize both mountain lion conservation and public safety—recognizing that durable sustained solutions require partnership and trust. 

This next chapter is supported by renewed leadership. With new staff leadership, an engaged board, and an expanded high-level advisory committee bringing scientific, policy, and regional expertise, the Foundation is strengthening its capacity to lead in an increasingly complex conservation landscape. 

This anniversary year is not only a moment to honor the past, but a call to act with urgency and purpose. With your continued support, the Mountain Lion Foundation will build on forty years of leadership to ensure that America’s lion not only survives, but flourishes, for generations to come. 

Thank you for being part of this journey. 

John Ziegler, MD, FASA 
Chair, Board of Directors 

Stand with Mountain Lions – All Year Long

Monthly support gives mountain lions consistent protection when new threats arise. As a Puma Protector, your $5/month helps defend habitat, promote coexistence, and protect wild places for future generations.

→ Become a Puma Protector

COEXISTENCE IN ACTION

On February 11 or 12, 2026, the California Fish and Game Commission will vote on a proposal to list the Central Coast and Southern California mountain lion populations—and their critical habitat—as Threatened under California law. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife supports this action. 

This vote represents a key milestone in a process that began in 2019, when the Mountain Lion Foundation and the Center for Biological Diversity jointly petitioned the Commission to protect these imperiled populations. As we shared in our December newsletter, these mountain lions face increasing threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and isolation—and science clearly shows that stronger protections are urgently needed. 

***For California residents (or send to family and friends in CA)***

Please submit a public comment urging the Commission to approve the listing and protect the habitat and wildlife corridors mountain lions need to survive. 

How to comment 

1. Email: fgc@fgc.ca.gov 

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

     Deadline: Before or on February 11, 2026 

2. Mail to California Fish and Game Commission, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 

3. Deliver to California Fish and Game Commission, 715 P Street, 16th floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 (due to security measures at the building entrance it is best to call and confirm staff availability before traveling to the office) 

What to say (briefly) 

  • Support listing the Central Coast and Southern California mountain lions as Threatened 
  • Emphasize the importance of protecting critical habitat and wildlife connectivity 
  • Urge the Commission to follow the best available science and CDFW’s recommendation
It was P22 Day, the year we had to do it remotely. I had been working on my book sales funding for the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. 

I was thinking of a trip to the bank to make a deposit when the news reported a mountain lion in a residential backyard in my city, Agoura Hills. 

I jumped in the car in the hopes of finding the location, and upon spotting a news van, I knew I’d tracked her down. 

I was invited into the yard, and immediately called one of the biologists studying our lions. He made it clear all people needed to be removed. It took two deputies to clear the yard and street. And after too long a time, the helicopter left as well. 

I was so excited that my body was shaking like a bowl of jello as I placed a call to Beth Pratt to share with her what was happening. 

This was P77 and several hours later she came down and returned to her territory. 

– Sherry Ferber
Hiking San Gorgonio wilderness, saw mom and cubs.
– Pitown Pi

Subscriber Stories and Photo/Video Submissions

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TELL US YOUR WILD STORY 

Do you have a mountain lion sighting, experience, or personal connection you’d like to share? We’re collecting stories from supporters to highlight in future newsletters and outreach. Click the link below to add your voice.

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Thank You! 

A heartfelt thank you to the exceptional team at US Bank’s Sammamish branch! During the Mountain Lion Foundation’s recent organizational restructuring, they went above and beyond to help us navigate complex account transitions and documentation requirements. Their dedication to customer service, even when working with a nonprofit based in another state, exemplifies the best of community banking partnerships. When institutions step up to support conservation organizations, everyone wins – especially the wildlife we work to protect. 

– Bob McCoy
Board Member

Help Keep America’s Wild – Wild

Every gift makes a difference. Thank you for standing with us —
and for keeping it wild.

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Action Alert: Speak Up for the Central Coast and Southern California Mountain Lions

On February 11 or 12, 2026, the California Fish and Game Commission will vote on a proposal to list the Central Coast and Southern California mountain lion populations—and their critical habitat—as Threatened under California law. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife supports this action. 

This vote represents a key milestone in a process that began in 2019, when the Mountain Lion Foundation and the Center for Biological Diversity jointly petitioned the Commission to protect these imperiled populations. As we shared in our December newsletter, these mountain lions face increasing threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and isolation—and science clearly shows that stronger protections are urgently needed. 

***For California residents (or send to family and friends in CA)***

Please submit a public comment urging the Commission to approve the listing and protect the habitat and wildlife corridors mountain lions need to survive. 

How to comment 

1. Email: fgc@fgc.ca.gov 

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

     Deadline: Before or on February 11, 2026 

2. Mail to California Fish and Game Commission, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 

3. Deliver to California Fish and Game Commission, 715 P Street, 16th floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 (due to security measures at the building entrance it is best to call and confirm staff availability before traveling to the office) 

What to say (briefly) 

  • Support listing the Central Coast and Southern California mountain lions as Threatened 
  • Emphasize the importance of protecting critical habitat and wildlife connectivity 
  • Urge the Commission to follow the best available science and CDFW’s recommendation

Cougar Cubs Confirmed in Michigan: A Rare Sign of Hope for America’s Lion

For the first time in more than a century, cougar cubs have been confirmed alive in Michigan.

In the Upper Peninsula, wildlife officials have verified that a female mountain lion successfully gave birth and raised cubs — a milestone that has not occurred in modern recorded history in the state.

This moment offers a rare glimpse of what’s possible when wild landscapes remain connected — and when mountain lions are given the space to live as they have for millennia.

Why This Moment Matters

For over 100 years, Michigan documented only wandering male mountain lions — animals dispersing east from established populations but unable to create a future.

That’s because female cougars are the limiting factor for recovery.

Females establish territories, raise young, and anchor populations. Their appearance far from existing breeding ranges is extraordinarily rare. The confirmation of a female — and surviving cubs — signals not just movement, but possibility.

This is not chance. It reflects:

  • the persistence of mountain lions
  • the importance of intact habitat
  • the role of landscape connectivity in wildlife recovery

One Female Does Not Make a Population

It’s important to be clear:
This does not mean Michigan has a self-sustaining cougar population.

True recovery requires:

  • multiple females
  • consistent reproduction over time
  • long-term survival of young
  • and wildlife management rooted in science, not fear

This moment is not the finish line.

It is a proof of resilience — and a reminder of what can happen when ecosystems are allowed to function.

A Glimpse of What’s Possible Across Their Historic Range

Mountain lions once ranged from coast to coast.

Michigan’s cubs reinforce a larger truth:
Mountain lions can return to parts of their historic range when habitat is protected, connectivity is maintained, and coexistence is prioritized.

From the Great Plains to the Midwest and beyond, recovery remains possible — but only if we make deliberate choices to protect wild places and manage wildlife responsibly.

The Season of Living — Wild

This moment arrives during what we at the Mountain Lion Foundation call The Season of Living — Wild — a time to reflect on resilience, connection, and the living landscapes that sustain us all.

The quiet survival of these cubs is a reminder that the wild world is still alive, still capable of recovery, and still worthy of our care.

How You Can Help Shape the Future of Cougar Recovery

Moments like this don’t happen in isolation. They depend on informed communities, connected landscapes, and science-based decision-making.

You can help by:

  • Supporting habitat protection and wildlife connectivity
  • Advocating for science-driven wildlife policy
  • Staying informed and sharing accurate information
  • Reporting sightings responsibly
Help Keep America’s Wild – WILD

Together, we can help ensure stories like Michigan’s cougar cubs become more possible — not rarer.

Statement from the Mountain Lion Foundation on Recent Tragic Incident in Colorado 

We are deeply saddened by the reported death of a hiker in Larimer County, Colorado. Our hearts are with the woman’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic incident. 

While mountain lion attacks on people are extremely rare, that reality offers little comfort in moments of loss. Tragedies like these underscore that sharing landscapes with wildlife unfortunately comes with real risks. There are a number of things that we can do to minimize that risk.

Mountain lions are wide-ranging animals that depend on large, connected territories to survive. As development, roads, and outdoor recreation expand into previously wild areas, interactions between people and wildlife can become more likely, not because of individual actions, but because habitats are more fragmented and pressured. 

Decades of research show that coexistence and connectivity solutions help reduce risk for both people and wildlife. Wildlife crossings and habitat corridors allow animals to move safely across landscapes without being pushed into closer contact with people. Education, such as understanding mountain lion behavior, knowing how to recreate safely, and learning how to respond during an encounter, also plays a critical role in reducing the already-low likelihood of conflict. 

For nearly forty years, the Mountain Lion Foundation has worked to advance science-based approaches that protect people, wildlife, and the landscapes they share. In moments like this, our role is to serve as a resource—offering clear information, practical guidance, and proven tools that support public safety. We maintain a range of coexistence resources for residents, landowners, and communities, including guidance on protecting pets and livestock and reducing conflict in mountain lion habitat. 

Through research, education, and community partnerships, we help communities navigate shared landscapes with knowledge, preparation, and long-term solutions. 

How Coexistence Reduces Risk 

  • Wildlife corridors & crossings 
    Connected habitats help mountain lions move naturally across landscapes without being forced into roads, neighborhoods, or high-use recreation areas. 
  • Education & awareness 
    Understanding when and where mountain lions are active—and how they behave—helps people avoid risky situations. 
  • Prepared recreation 
    Knowing how to hike, run, or recreate safely in lion country significantly lowers the chance of an encounter. 
  • Science-based management 
    Research shows that indiscriminate killing of predators can disrupt natural behavior and does not reliably improve public safety. 

Tips for Recreation in Mountain Lion Country 

  • Hike in groups and stay alert, especially at dawn and dusk 
  • Keep children and pets close 
  • Avoid wearing headphones 
  • Do not approach wildlife 
  • Carry bear spray (it works on cats too) 
  • If you encounter a mountain lion: stay calm, maintain eye contact, yell aggressively, make yourself look larger, and slowly back away 

Learn More 

Explore practical guidance, safety tips, and conservation solutions at mountainlion.org, including: 

  • Information on wildlife corridors and crossings 

Coexistence is not about choosing between people and wildlife—it’s about creating landscapes where both can thrive. 

Utah’s Cougar Study: A Lethal Program Without Rigorous Science 

Utah’s Cougar Study: A Lethal Program Without Rigorous Science 

In December, Utah wildlife officials discussed a proposal that would dramatically increase the intentional killing of mountain lions in six regions of the state.

The proposal seeks to determine whether lethally eliminating large numbers of cougars will increase mule deer populations. 

Mountain Lion Foundation is deeply concerned about this proposal because it relies on lethal removal as a management tool. Decades of research across the West show that habitat quality, climate, and migration corridors are the primary drivers of deer numbers, not how many cougars are killed. Utah’s proposal leans on lethal removal despite this body of science and without clear evidence that killing more cougars will achieve its stated goals. We oppose this effort on fundamental principles: wildlife management should be science-based and precautionary, especially when populations are already declining and likelihood of success is uncertain. We are following this issue closely and urging the public to voice their concerns. 

Statements from a series of recent public meetings, raise serious concerns. 

What Utah Officials Said — In Their Own Words 

During the public meetings, official confirmed: 

  • The project would run for at least three years, with the possibility of extension 
  • Cougars are “very difficult to count,” and precise population estimates are uncertain 
  • Unreported mortality, including killing without a tag, is difficult to monitor. 

Why This Matters 

This project does not appear to meet basic scientific standards and lacks several of the fundamental elements required for credible evaluation. 

There are no articulated thresholds that would trigger a pause or reevaluation if cougar populations decline further. There are no defined metrics for what would constitute success or failure. And while deer response is the primary focus, there is no plan to monitor broader ecosystem impacts, including cougar social disruption or increased conflict. Without these components, the state cannot reliably determine whether the intervention is helping, harming, or simply shifting problems elsewhere. 

The project is also supported by private funding from sporting organizations whose missions prioritize increased ungulate numbers. While private funding does not automatically invalidate research, predator management is a politically charged arena, which makes independent oversight, transparent evaluation, and clearly defined methods especially important, yet these safeguards appear limited here. 

Compounding these concerns is Utah’s acknowledgment that cougar populations are already declining and difficult to estimate with precision. Implementing a high-magnitude, open-ended removal program under such uncertainty introduces substantial population risk without demonstrated likelihood of benefit. 

What Science Tells Us 

Decades of peer-reviewed research across the West show that intensive predator removal rarely delivers sustained or landscape-scale recovery of prey populations. Instead, it often destabilizes predator populations, leading to younger, transient animals, increased conflict, and little long-term benefit for deer. Studies that do show short-term gains for prey typically involve narrowly targeted, time-limited actions, not broad, open-ended culling across multiple management units. 

In most systems, deer populations are driven primarily by habitat quality, drought, winter severity, and migration connectivity, not predator abundance alone. When these underlying factors limit deer numbers, reducing predator populations offers little measurable benefit and can divert attention from the real drivers of decline. 

The scientific consensus is clear: removing large numbers of cougars without strong justification, clear objectives, and rigorous evaluation is unlikely to achieve the state’s stated goals and risks causing ecological harm that is difficult to reverse. 

Why MLF Is Paying Attention 

Mountain lions are already under escalating pressure across much of the West. Given acknowledged population decline and uncertainty, lethal management proposals like this are unjustified, unsupported by evidence, and risk irreversible ecological harm. For MLF, these concerns are not abstract, Utah’s approach directly affects the long-term viability of local cougar populations and the landscapes they help sustain. 

The proposed study does not include baseline data, defined safeguards, or clear limits on harm, especially when the burden of uncertainty is borne almost entirely by an apex predator with little margin for error. 

Mountain Lion Foundation believes wildlife management must be grounded in rigorous science, transparency, and a clear commitment to long-term ecological health. That responsibility requires us to scrutinize proposals like this, elevate public-record facts, and ensure the risks to mountain lions and the ecosystems they shape are fully understood by policy-makers and the public before irreversible choices are made. 

What You Can Do: Utah Action Alert & Ways to Help – *Utah Residents Only*

Public voices matter—especially when wildlife decisions carry long-term consequences. 

1. Submit a public comment to Utah wildlife officials 

Ask decision-makers to ensure any action affecting mountain lions is guided by sound science and clear safeguards. 

Submit comments here: https://wildlife.utah.gov/contact – *Utah Residents Only*

How to write your comment 

  • Be respectful and concise 
  • Focus on science, transparency, and precaution 
  • Ask for baseline data, success criteria, and stopping rules 
  • Encourage investment in habitat, migration corridors, and coexistence, not predator removal 

Sample language you may copy or adapt: 

I oppose the proposed cougar removal project and urge Utah wildlife officials to apply the precautionary principle. When population estimates are uncertain and trends indicate decline, a large-scale removal program cannot be credibly characterized as a scientific test. Such actions require clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and defined limits on harm, none have been presented. 

Research across the West shows that broad predator culls rarely deliver sustained gains for deer, while habitat quality, climate, and migration routes are far more influential. I respectfully ask the agency to prioritize transparent, science-based management and invest in habitat, connectivity, and coexistence strategies over unsupported large-scale predator removal. 

2. Stay informed as this moves forward 

MLF is tracking this proposal and will share updates, meeting notices, and future opportunities to engage. 

Sign up for our Newsletter…

Become an Advocate

3. Support science-based advocacy 

Your support helps MLF analyze proposals, elevate public-record facts, and advocate for responsible wildlife management in Utah and across the West. 

Mountain lions are already under pressure. Thoughtful, science-based public engagement can help ensure wildlife policy reflects evidence—not assumptions. 

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America’s Lion Share – December 16, 2025

Welcome to the latest edition of America’s Lions Share, your monthly update on the stories, science, and people shaping the future of mountain lion conservation.

California Wildlife Officials Recommend Threatened Status for Central Coast and Southern California Mountain Lions

In a major conservation victory, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recommended that mountain lions across the Central Coast and Southern California be listed as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. This groundbreaking recommendation, if approved by the Fish and Game Commission, would provide critical long-term protections for populations increasingly imperiled by highways, development, and habitat fragmentation.

The Department’s comprehensive status review, released December 9, validates what scientists and advocates have long warned: without immediate intervention, these iconic cats face potential collapse in multiple regions. The recommended protections would safeguard essential habitat, mandate wildlife crossing construction, and restrict the use of anticoagulant rodenticides that poison the food chain.

“This recommendation confirms that California’s mountain lions are in crisis and need our protection now,” said Ellen C. O’Connell, Executive Director of the Mountain Lion Foundation. “From the Santa Monica Mountains to the Central Coast, these populations are being strangled by freeways and development. Today’s decision recognizes that we can’t wait any longer to act.”

Continue Reading

California Reopens Debate: Killing Mountain Lions to Save Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

When Predator Control Becomes a Band-Aid 

Recent reports that California has authorized the killing of mountain lions to protect endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep have reignited a familiar debate: Should predators be removed to save vulnerable prey?

At first glance, the answer can feel urgent and straightforward. When a small, struggling herd loses animals to predation, lethal removal may appear to offer immediate relief. But decades of ecological research suggest this approach treats a symptom, not the underlying disease — and may ultimately undermine the very ecosystems conservation seeks to protect.

Predators Are Rarely the Root Cause

Mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, and other native predators are often described as the cause of prey declines. In reality, they are almost always the proximate cause — the final link in a long chain of stressors.

The ultimate causes of prey population declines are overwhelmingly human-driven:
habitat loss and fragmentation, roads and fencing that block movement, energy and timber development, climate-driven drought and warming, disease, and invasive species. When prey populations are already weakened by these pressures, even natural levels of predation can push them closer to collapse.

Removing predators without addressing those root causes may buy time — but it doesn’t change the conditions that made the prey vulnerable in the first place.

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COEXISTENCE IN ACTION

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Remembering Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton 

Earlier this month, the conservation world lost one of its greatest giants. Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton—visionary scientist, founder of Save the Elephants, and a pioneer in wildlife research—has passed away, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped global conservation. 

Dr. Douglas-Hamilton’s groundbreaking work forever changed how we understand and protect wild animals. His leadership, courage, and relentless curiosity inspired generations of conservationists, including many here at the Mountain Lion Foundation. His life’s work reminds us of what is possible when science, passion, and compassion meet. 

We mourn his passing alongside our colleagues around the world and extend our deepest condolences to his family and the Save the Elephants community. His impact will endure in every landscape where wildlife still roams free—and in the work of all who continue the fight he championed. 

May we honor him by advancing the mission he dedicated his life to: ensuring a wild and thriving future for the animals who depend on us. 

The Season of Living – Wild

As the year draws to a close, we’re entering a time we hold close at the Mountain Lion Foundation, The Season of Living – Wild. 

It’s a moment to reflect on what it means for landscapes to remain alive, for wildlife to move freely, and for America’s lion to continue living wild and free. 

In the days ahead, we’ll be sharing stories of wildness, resilience, and the work ahead to protect mountain lions in 2026.

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California Wildlife Officials Recommend Threatened Status for Central Coast and Southern California Mountain Lions

California Wildlife Officials Recommend Threatened Status for Central Coast and Southern California Mountain Lions

Historic recommendation follows years of advocacy by Mountain Lion Foundation and Center for Biological Diversity

In a major conservation victory, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recommended that mountain lions across the Central Coast and Southern California be listed as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. This groundbreaking recommendation, if approved by the Fish and Game Commission, would provide critical long-term protections for populations increasingly imperiled by highways, development, and habitat fragmentation.

The Department’s comprehensive status review, released December 9, validates what scientists and advocates have long warned: without immediate intervention, these iconic cats face potential collapse in multiple regions. The recommended protections would safeguard essential habitat, mandate wildlife crossing construction, and restrict the use of anticoagulant rodenticides that poison the food chain.

“This recommendation confirms that California’s mountain lions are in crisis and need our protection now,” said Ellen C. O’Connell, Executive Director of the Mountain Lion Foundation. “From the Santa Monica Mountains to the Central Coast, these populations are being strangled by freeways and development. Today’s decision recognizes that we can’t wait any longer to act.”

The recommendation stems from a 2019 petition filed by the Mountain Lion Foundation and Center for Biological Diversity documenting six genetically distinct populations at risk of extinction. The petition triggered emergency protections in 2020 while CDFW conducted its review.

The proposed listing would establish enforceable habitat protections, accelerate wildlife crossing projects at critical chokepoints, and create a framework for landscape-level connectivity planning—essential tools for preventing local extinctions.

Next Steps

The Fish and Game Commission will vote on CDFW’s recommendation in early 2026. The Mountain Lion Foundation is mobilizing supporters statewide to ensure commissioners hear the overwhelming public support for protecting California’s lions.

“We’ve come too far to lose momentum now,” added O’Connell. “Every Californian who values our wild heritage needs to make their voice heard.”