Two mountain lion kittens were recently discovered by National Park Service biologists in the Santa Monica Mountians, bringing the total of studied mountains lions in the area to 24.
“The fact that successful reproduction is occurring in the mountains indicates that we have high-quality habitat for mountains lions here,” said Dr. Seth Riley, a wildlife expert with the National Park Service.
Riley said the habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains isn't big enough to support a larger population of mountain lions.
“Unfortunately, the amount of habitat is not sufficient to support a viable population long-term, and when new animals like these are born, especially young males, they run into freeways and development when they try to disperse," he said.
The kittens’ mother is Puma 19, who was captured a few months ago and appeared to be pregnant.
While the mother was away, researchers outfitted the female and male kittens with tracking devices in their den east of Circle X Ranch in Malibu, according to Kate Kuykendall of the parks service.
The kittens were likely born in mid-June.
They are the second documented case of first-order inbreeding in which a father lion mates with his female offspring, according to the parks service.
DNA testing from the Robert Wayne Lab at UCLA indicated that the father of the kittens is P-12, who is also the father of P-19.
Biologist believe P-12—the only lion they have documented crossing the 101 Freeway—also fathered a 2-year-old male that in May.
That lion was likely trying to establish his own home range. That it trekked all the way to Second Street in Santa Monica, when young adult male lions look for new territory to escape threats from larger male lions or to find a mate.
Seth Riley, an urban wildlife expert with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, has noted that such movements can be critical for animal populations that are penned-in by geography and development—such as the mountain lions hemmed in by the 101 and 405 freeways.
The loss and fragmentation of their habitat because of development is the biggest threat to mountain lions in the region, Riley said.
In a press release, the parks service warned of kitten's chances of survival:
Although the habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains is robust and suitable for hunting and reproduction, the kittens will face many challenges to survive. The limited amount of connectivity between remaining natural areas and the lack of effective wildlife crossings can lead to deadly conflicts over territory and road mortalities.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Biologists from recreation area are now tracking seven mountain lions as part of a decade-long study to better understand how the animals survive in urbanized landscapes.
The recently discovered kittens are the third litter to be documented during the study.
Dear Glenn: The second half of this sentence is what I call negative. It's not discourse or discussion: "I guess you'll blame the kid" is negative. I will post.
The good news: whoever's holding this kitten in the picture has gloves on.
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/global-meat-production-and-consumption-rises-with-devastating-consequences-for-people-animals-and-the-planet/
- Raising livestock accounts for roughly 23 percent of all global water use in agriculture, equivalent to 1.15 liters of water per person per day. - Livestock account for an estimated 18 percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, producing 40 percent of the world’s methane and 65 percent of the world’s nitrous oxide. - 75 percent of the antibiotics used on livestock are not absorbed by the animals and are excreted in waste, posing a serious risk to public health. - An estimated 11 percent of deaths in men and 16 percent of deaths in women could be prevented if people decreased their red meat consumption to the level of the group that ate the least. Go veggie!
Maybe if we all increased our consumption of livestock, we would deplete it and then decrease their harm on the world? Maybe being a vegetarian is a bad thing for Mother Earth? But don't worry about Mother Earth, when she is ready she will purge herself of all humanity, cleans herself of our filth and within a million or so years there will be very little evidence that humans ever existed. And when our sun finally super novas, it will expand beyond the orbit of the earth and consume it, there will be nothing left, so all of those who don't want to be cremated, well guess what, the natural order of the universe will do it for you. I think I am going to go out and eat some animal products tonight.
stay away from the mountains Then, no one will get attacked. Ride the beach instead. If you encroach on wild animals' habitat, you may encounter a wild animal. Chances are very high. YOU can relocate - they can't. So, if you can't handle it, or your friends can't either, stay the hell out of the areas that wild animals live. It's as simple as that. Then, nothing will happen!
And actually, I did pose a very logical argument and wrote up an assessment report, which was sent to several California mayors and other city and state officials after the death of the mountain lion in May this year, to which they have responded and reacted. The city is now in the works of structuring together a more efficient wildlife rescue program, which will act with safety, efficiency and accuracy to better avoid premature and unnecessary lethal solutions. So, what have you done lately beside pester people with your ignorant and irrational arguments? Try using your time more wisely... may I suggest school?
Cristina, I applaud you for your efforts and I hope that the next time some big cat finds its way into an urban environment, the bone heads don't let their new training slip their minds and just blow the thing away again. Most likely they will, but we can hope! :) On the other side of the coin, that is my part of my argument as to why the Santa Monica Mountains are not a good environment for Mountain Lions, the area is just too small and there is too much risk with a human encounter. Glenn, I have a great T-Shirt for you, I last saw them at Lee's Tees in Jackson, Wy (307) 733-6671. PETA = People Eating Tasty Animals I appreciate you doing your part to reduce green house gases, not to mention all of the contamination of the water table.
you did! I was just annoyed at the "I will eat as many evil farm animals as I can" comment. It was an ignorant statement, in my opinion. What was the point in even saying it!?? Put it this way, if there weren't organizations like PETA, no one would fight to defend innocent animals. PETA does go overboard at some things, that I will agree, but at least they stand up for the rights of animals that cannot stand up for themselves. So mocking PETA is also very ignorant. As far as watching Oprah, and the other shows, I was never a fan of any of them, and I WORK for a living. Who has the time! Another ignorant statement. Anyway, you stick to your opinions, and I, and the others, will stick to ours.