California Mountain Lions: The Legends of California
Trail camera footage / Wind Wolves Preserve, Kern County
Mountain lions are solitary and secretive animals, which is why most native Californians have never seen the elusive mountain lion in the wild. These cats are considered an ‘umbrella species’ for conservation, meaning that by preserving enough wilderness to support a stable mountain lion population, countless other plant and animal species that share its habitat also benefit.
Originating in 2001, The California Mountain Lion Project is a study based out of UC Davis Wildlife Health Center and is currently led by Dr. T. Winston Vickers and Fernando Nájera. The focus of the study is on habitat use, prey animals, health and disease, genetics, and human interactions, including livestock depredation prevention. Key research is conducted, gathered and shared to help educate the public on the importance of mountain lions to the ecosystem and what can be done to prevent their decline in the state.
Highways and development have divided what natural habitat remains for mountain lions, which is causing a chain reaction of consequences. Dispersing lions are getting hit by vehicles and lions that opt not to migrate and remain in fragmented habitats are inbreeding. The Tehachapi Mountain Range and Los Padres National Forest east and west of I-5, respectively, are the linchpin habitats between coastal and Southern California mountain lion populations and the more genetically diverse populations in the Sierras. Understanding how mountain lions move through this region is key to reestablishing genetic connections that are critical to survival of several populations.
The Wildlands Conservancy is a proud supporter and participant in UC Davis Wildlife Health Center’s ongoing research, permitting mountain lion studies at Wind Wolves Preserve. To research mountain lions, scientists must capture wild mountain lions and collect vital data which can determine potential threats and identify how we can help conserve them. By placing GPS collars on the captured mountain lions, scientists are able to track movements and behavior, as well as document habitat use. They also take biological samples to gather information in regard to infectious diseases, toxin exposure, diet, and genetic health.
UC Davis team collecting data on a captured mountain lion at Wind Wolves Preserve. Photo courtesy of Dave Clendenen
“Wind Wolves Preserve is a jewel to us, providing many animals of varied sexes and age groups to advance our research in studying the connectivity of mountain lions in central California.” — Fernando Nájera, wildlife research veterinarian and Co-Director of the Mountain Lion Project.
If you’re interested to learn more about the mountain lions' struggle for survival, the ecological importance of these big cats, and how you can help to conserve them, check out this mini-series about mountain lions in California.To learn more about the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center Mountain Lion Project, you can view their website here.