November 5, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Mountain Lions Recover from Woolsey Fire

Santa Monica Mountains recover from disaster.

By Keldine Hull

With over 150,000 acres of hiking trails, beaches and canyons, the sprawling terrain of the Santa Monica Mountains has always been an integral part of California’s diverse landscape. Last year’s devastating Woolsey fire scorched nearly half of the total land in the Santa Monica Mountains, threatening the natural habitat for over 500 species, including the notable mountain lions. 

“We were tracking 13 mountain lions when the fire broke out. Of those, we believe that one, P-74, perished in the fire. Another male, P-64, died a few weeks after the fire. We are awaiting an official cause of death from a necropsy being performed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, but he did have burned paws,” said a spokesperson for the National Park Service (NPS).

Just over three months after the onset of the Wooley fire, how mountain lions have adjusted to their affected habitat is still unknown.

“With regards to how they adapt, we don’t yet know the answer to that question. What we’ve seen so far is that mountain lions, whose home ranges are within the burned areas, are still using those areas, but may be spending less time there and traveling through it. The exception to this is P-65, a young female whose home range has continued to be entirely within the burn area. It’s likely that she is finding unburned spots within the burn perimeter and finding deer to prey on,” the spokesperson said.

Migration for mountain lions and other wildlife to other regions is extremely difficult, due mostly to ocean and freeways that surround the Santa Monica Mountains. 

As destructive as the Woolsey fire was, other factors still pose a bigger threat to the welfare and safety of mountain lions.

“The biggest threat to the well-being of mountain lions in this area continues to be habitat fragmentation due to roads and development. After a major fire that burned so much of the Santa Monica Mountains, the need for habitat connectivity is even greater,” the spokesperson said.

P-64, a mountain lion who died shortly after the Woolsey Fire.

The devastating impact of the Woolsey fire highlights the importance of continued research on the long-term effects of natural disasters on wildlife

“I think research is critical to understanding how a fire of this scale affects mountain lions and other wildlife. On a broader scale, supporting efforts that improve habitat connectivity are critical to ensuring the long-term survival of mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains. The best example of this is the effort to construct a wildlife crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills. This effort would connect the Santa Monica Mountains to the larger habitat areas to the north,” the spokesperson said.

Organizations like NPS play a significant role in safeguarding the Santa Monica Mountains and the wildlife that dwells there.

“Our job is to preserve and protect the flora and fauna in the Santa Monica Mountains. We want to preserve the wildness of the Santa Monica Mountains, and we think mountain lions are a very important part of that,” the spokesperson said.

Related Posts

Early Morning Call From Community Leads to Burglary Arrest in Culver City

November 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

Police Respond To Suspicious Activity Call, Arrest Suspect With Pickaxe Culver City police arrested a man early Friday morning in...

Culver City Police Department is Prepared to Ensure Community Safety During Election Week

November 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

Enhanced Patrols, Activated Emergency Center Ready, Culver City Voting Center is Open The Culver City Police Department has announced an...

Legendary Music Icon Quincy Jones Dies at 91 in Bel Air

November 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

Celebrated Musician, Producer Leaves an Indelible Legacy By Dolores Quintana Legendary musician, music producer, film and television producer, composer of...

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Lays Off Longtime Archive and Library Staff

November 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

Downsizing and Restructuring Continue, Affecting Employees with Decades of Service By Dolores Quintana Last week, the Academy of Motion Picture...

LA County Opens 526 New Vote Centers for Early Voting, Announces Conditional Voting for Unregistered Residents

November 3, 2024

November 3, 2024

Metro LA Offers Free Rides on Election Day to Help Residents Get to the Polls Los Angeles County opened an...

New Aviation/Century Station Opens, Linking Metro’s C and K Lines

November 3, 2024

November 3, 2024

Metro’s Newest Station Paves the Way for Future LAX Transit Center The new Aviation/Century Station officially opened this week, marking...

H5N1 Detected in LA County Wastewater, Health Officials Urge Precautions for Residents

November 3, 2024

November 3, 2024

Los Angeles County Investigates Low-Level H5 Avian Flu Detected in Wastewater The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is...

Two Events in Culver City This Weekend: Bike Registration and Dance Performance

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

Put the Brakes on Bicycle Theft and Enjoy an Evening of Dance and Interactive Art The Culver City Police Department...

All You Need to Know to Attend the Dodgers Victory Parade Tomorrow in DTLA

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

World Champions and LA’s Team to Greet Angelenos After Win of NY Yankees The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that their...

Beverly Hills City Government Agrees to a Stipulated Judgment After Blocking Abortion Clinic Opening

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

City to Implement Training, Oversight on Reproductive Rights Following Legal Settlement  California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a legal agreement...

Dia De Los Muertos 2024: Here’s Where To Celebrate The Holiday Tradition This Weekend

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

Los Angeles Has a Variety of Ways to Explore Latino Culture and Honor Ancestors Starting just after Halloween, Dia de...

(Video) Downtown L.A. Reacts to World Series Victory

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

The Dodgers Are World Series Champs For The Eighth Time https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFtyDDKn/

Halloween Pre-Game Party Brings Chills and Spooky Thrills to The Rose Venice

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

Enjoy Halloween With Festive Cocktails, Appetizers, and a Costume Contest The Rose Venice in Venice is set to host a...

(Video) Something About Her’s First Tea Time Was a Big Hit

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

The Next Date is November Third. Beautiful vibes, deciduous food and drink. Don’t miss it. @Something About Her @culvercitywlanews Something...

Something About Her Sandwich Shop Hosts Second Exclusive Tea Time on November 3

October 30, 2024

October 30, 2024

By Dolores Quintana West Hollywood’s Delightful Sandwich Spot by Vanderpump Rules Stars Has Tea Service Something About Her, the adorable...