The King of the Verdugos has fallen. Today the Santa Monica National Park Service confirmed that P-41, the only male mountain lion in the Verdugo Mountain Range in California, died recently of unknown causes. The loss of this critically important individual lion was likely due to health complications or injuries related to September's Verdugo Fire, the largest fire in LA history. He was . . .

The California Superior Court issued a decision last week in a lawsuit against Monterey County's contracted predator killing program.

In June, 2016, the Mountain Lion Foundation joined other wildlife protection organizations in a lawsuit against Monterey County, California. The suit challenged renewal of the county's contract with a federal agency - USDA Wildlife Services - to kill . . .

The killing has begun in a controversial program that plans to kill up to 120 mountain lions and black bears in a misguided experiment aimed at increasing Colorado's mule deer population. The methods used will include "cage traps, culvert traps, foot snares and trailing hounds for capture, and a firearm will be used for euthanasia," according to a plan overview. The plan was set to go into effect . . .

As most of you know, Assemblymember Richard Bloom is championing mountain lions with Assembly Bill 8, that seeks greater flexibility for responding to situations where mountain lions have preyed on pets and livestock. Since AB 8 was first introduced last December, Mr. Bloom has continued to work closely with the expert leadership at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to . . .

UPDATE! - Florida Wildlife Commission biologists have announced they have strong evidence that there is another female panther on the north side of the Caloosahatchee River! Trail cameras have picked up a large male panther engaged in what appears to be mating behavior with a female panther. FWC biologists are investigating other reports of possible female panthers north of the River as well, . . .

Nevada lawmakers will soon be considering trapping reforms just as a new statewide poll emerges showing that Nevada voters stand strongly behind efforts to reform existing trapping laws in the state. A majority of Nevadans said they oppose existing trapping laws which pose a threat to wildlife, family pets and public safety on public lands. The poll was conducted by TrailSafe Nevada and the . . .

UPDATE!

As of March 16, 2017, New Mexico Senate Bill 268, legislation that would prohibit coyote killing contests, has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate and the House Judiciary Committee and is now on to the House floor. There has been an amendment proposed to strike the words 'or entertainment' from the bill language, which may bring more support. The hearing has not . . .

The Mountain Lion Foundation will be presenting work conducted over two years by 13 interns at the Wildlife Society-Western Section annual meeting. The conference is being held in Reno, Nevada from February 6-10, 2017 at the Peppermill Resort. The Mountain Lion Foundation intern poster (link here to poster online) will be posted . . .

Over Thanksgiving weekend 2016, a rancher north of Malibu, CA lost 11 alpacas to depredation and P-45 stood accused of the deed. The Mountain Lion Foundation's 12/04/2016 article tells the story here.

P-45 continues to be known and loved by many as one of the few mountain lions who survive in the Santa . . .

Four bills have been introduced this year into the Oregon legislature that threaten cougars. All four bills, H.B. 2107, H.B. 2589, S.B. 371 and S.B. 458, would take a step back towards animal cruelty and once again put Oregon's cougar population and other wildlife in grave danger from the cruel and unnecessary practice of hound hunting.

Oregon mountain lions have been safe from . . .