Removing mountain lions non-lethally

The number of mountain lions killed in California has dropped significantly since February, when the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) implemented a policy allowing for more non-lethal options when it comes to the presence of the big cats in populated areas.

In May, for example, a mountain lion fell into a culvert in Santa Cruz and couldn’t jump out; he was tranquilized, rather than killed, and released into the Soquel Demonstration State Forest, according to a CDFW press release.

“Sometimes you can find a mountain lion … in an unusual location otherwise behaving normally,” said CDFW Law Enforcement Chief Mike Carion. “It isn’t always a threat to public safety. … We are pleased that this policy allows us to evaluate each situation carefully and to choose a solution which allows a co-existence between humans and wildlife while allowing discretion to act when there is a public-safety issue.”