With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Mountain Lion P-55 Crosses 101 Freeway, Now Roaming Santa Susana Mountains
P-55. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)
()
P-55, a male mountain lion that's estimated to be about two years old, has crossed the 101 Freeway, venturing away from the Santa Monica Mountains, announced researchers at the National Park Service. It's believed that the lion later crossed Highway 23 and the 118 Freeway as well, and now roams the Santa Susana Mountains.
The NPS describes the crossing of the 101 Freeway as a "rare case," noting that, since 2002, there have been only four documented cases of a mountain lion crossing the freeway. Of the four crossings, only one (made by P-12) entered the Santa Monica Mountains from the north, bringing in new genetic material that is much needed in the region.
P-55 made headlines days before his crossing. Security cameras spotted him roaming the backyard of a Newbury Park home just after midnight on July 29. The footage, uploaded by Thousand Oaks Acorn, shows the lion jumping over a spa after it nearly falls into it (this part is kind of hard to see, but it happens towards the end):
Support for LAist comes from
The crossing highlights an issue that hangs over the mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains. Fenced in by the sea and the freeways, the region has become an island in which inbreeding is rampant for the area's mountain lions. In August of 2016, researchers released a report that said that there's a 99.7% chance that the animals will go extinct if nothing is done to provide relief.
“The overwhelming pattern we’ve observed through GPS tracking is lions coming up to the edge of a freeway and turning around,” said Seth Riley, a wildlife ecologist at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, in regards to P-55's crossing. “So it’s really interesting to see another lion get across. As a whole, however, lions face significant challenges moving around the fragmented landscape in and around the Santa Monica Mountains, especially across larger roads and through intensely developed areas.”
In efforts to let the mountain lions roam into other regions, state agencies, wildlife agencies and elected officials have backed a Caltrans proposal that would establish a wildlife crossing that extends over the 101 Freeway in the Agoura Hills area. Planners are hoping for a 2021 unveiling of the project, reports the L.A. Times.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist