Dr. Erika Zavaleta, President
California Fish and Game Commission
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1320
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support CESA Protections for Southern and Central Coast Mountain Lions
Dear President Zavaleta and Commissioners,
On behalf of the Mountain Lion Foundation and the undersigned supporters across California and beyond, we respectfully urge the Commission to accept the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) recommendation to list Southern California and Central Coast mountain lions as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).
Mountain lions are an integral part of California’s ecological identity. CDFW’s status review makes clear that several populations along the Southern and Central Coast are now dangerously isolated, facing ongoing habitat fragmentation, reduced genetic diversity, and elevated levels of human-caused mortality. These pressures are not hypothetical, they are measurable, well-documented, and closely linked to land-use decisions that can, and must, be improved. While mountain lions retain protections statewide, the status review demonstrates that statewide classification alone is insufficient to prevent localized extinction where populations have become genetically and geographically isolated. CESA was designed to address precisely these circumstances, before recovery options narrow beyond reach.
CDFW’s recommendation reflects years of rigorous, peer-reviewed research and long-term monitoring, and it underscores the importance of letting science guide wildlife policy. Listing these mountain lion populations under CESA would provide the legal and management framework needed to address the root causes of their decline, particularly the loss of landscape connectivity that limits recovery and long-term viability. The consistency of findings across independent studies and multiple lines of evidence supports a precautionary approach: acting now to prevent further decline rather than delaying action until recovery becomes more uncertain and costly.
As a keystone species, mountain lions play a critical role in maintaining healthy, resilient ecosystems. Their loss from portions of California’s coastal landscapes would have lasting consequences not only for biodiversity, but also for the integrity of the wild places Californians value and depend upon. At the same time, we recognize that conservation succeeds best when it emphasizes coexistence, proactive planning, and solutions that reduce conflict before it occurs.
Listing these populations as threatened would enable thoughtful, forward-looking actions, including protecting remaining habitat, improving wildlife movement across roads and developed areas, reducing preventable mortalities, and integrating connectivity into land-use planning. These are practical, science-based measures that benefit both wildlife and people. Accepting CDFW’s recommendation would not halt growth or land-use, but would promote smarter planning that accounts for wildlife movement, public safety, and long-term landscape resilience alongside human needs.
We appreciate CDFW’s careful analysis and the Commission’s responsibility to safeguard California’s public trust wildlife. We respectfully ask you to follow CDFW’s recommendation and extend CESA protections to Southern and Central Coast mountain lions, ensuring they remain a living part of California’s landscape for generations to come.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Byron Weckworth, Ph.D.
Chief Conservation and Advocacy Officer
Mountain Lion Foundation