Another Mountain Lion Killed on 17

Our staff and partners (Pathways for Wildlife, the Santa Cruz Puma Project, California Fish and Wildlife) figured out that this was the same lion we have pictures of on the properties we’ve protected on either side of Laurel Curve (pic above). That nick on his ear, along with his size, identifies him as the same lion killed.

He had crossed safely at least once before. He was looking for a way to cross again, right where the wildlife tunnel will be built.

Just the day before we heard this news, I was in Sacramento, meeting with the Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Board, which put in “the lion’s share” of the funds to protect the lands on either side of the tunnel site, where this lion was trying to cross.

They were excited to hear that design for the wildlife crossing will be completed this summer and that it could go to bid next year. Everywhere we went in Sacramento, we heard that this wildlife crossing is the first of its kind in the state, that it is essentially the pilot project for future wildlife crossings all over California.

That doesn’t make the death of another mountain lion any less sad. It has been a little over three years since the last cougar death on this stretch of 17. We are doing all we can to make this death the last one.

Your donation now will go towards helping pay for construction – we have about $2 million to raise before construction can begin.


Stephen Slade
February 16, 2018


Stephen Slade is the Executive Director at Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. He has more than 40 years non-profit experience in fundraising, communications, and management – and a deep passion for the lands that make Santa Cruz special.


http://www.landtrustsantacruz.org/another-mountain-lion-killed-17/