Another mountain lion that’s part of a study of the big cats living in, and around the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area has died, leaving behind a number of kittens.
The three year old adult female known as P-39 was apparently struck and killed December 3rd on Highway 118, just outside of Simi Valley near Rocky Peak Road.
Researchers didn’t know about the accident until a few days later, and the cat’s remains had already been removed. The cat had been wearing a tracking collar, but it was apparently damaged. A researcher found it on the freeway’s center divider this week.
P-39 had three six month kittens, but researchers don’t know where they are, and say it’s unlikely they have enough hunting skills yet to survive.
She was the 13th mountain lion to be struck, and killed on freeways in the region since 2002. Researchers say highways in the region have bisected the areas where mountain lions live, forcing them to try to make dangerous crossings. An effort is underway to build a wildlife crossing over Highway 101 in the Agoura Hills area.
