Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPORT
DOUG UPDIKE, Wildlife Programs Branch, California Department of Fish & Game, 1812 9 th
Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA, email: dupdike@dfg.ca.gov
INTRODUCTION
California has a statewide mountain lion
management plan. In 1990, mountain lions
were legally classified as a “specially
protected mammal” by the passage of a
voter initiative (Proposition 117, June 1990
ballot). Prior to that initiative, lions were
classified as “game mammals.”
The objectives for mountain lion
management in California is to maintain
healthy, wild populations of mountain lions
for the benefit and enjoyment of the people
in the State, to alleviate public safety
incidents and reduce damage to private
property (pets and livestock) by mountain
lions. Mountain lions are not hunted in
California, and they may be killed only to
preserve public safety, alleviate damage to
private property or to protect listed bighorn
sheep.
Number
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Mountain Lion Depredation Permits (1972 - 2002)
6
Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop
DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE
Lions are currently distributed
throughout all suitable habitats within
California. Lion numbers appear to be
stable at an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 adults.
The number of lions in California is
based upon extrapolating densities
determined with the use of radio collars.
These studies have been conducted in
various locations of the State. The number
of lions is determined by multiplying the
densities and the area represented by the
ecological province. The studies that
provide local lion density data have been
conducted over a period of a couple decades.
Consequently, the Department recognizes
the estimate has limited application.
The Department issues depredation
permits to property owners who have
experienced damage from a mountain lion
(Figure 1).
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
Year
Permits Issued
Lions Killed
Figure 1. The number of mountain lion depredation permits issued and the number of
lions that have been killed as a result in California, 1972-2002.