Overview
- The Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 12 to grant permanent California Endangered Species Act protections to six regional populations from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Eastern Peninsular Ranges.
- More than 1,400 animals—about one-third of the state’s roughly 4,172 mountain lions—are covered, reflecting risks from genetic isolation, vehicle collisions, rodenticides, wildfire and disease.
- State and local agencies must now evaluate and minimize habitat harm in project approvals, including under CEQA, with connectivity measures such as wildlife crossings prioritized.
- Developers and ranching groups caution that broader reviews could increase costs and complicate livestock protections, though wildlife officials can still issue conflict-management permits on a case-by-case basis.
- Scientists report severe inbreeding signals in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana ranges, while the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over US‑101 is expected to help reconnect isolated populations.