Fall 2019 (PDF – 780 KB)Highlights: Why Cougars Count Madrona Esperanza Hills Puente Hills Preserve Grows We Lost a Friend (Judy Hathaway Francis) Park Hours Change 104 Year Fire Study Released
The cougars in the Santa Ana and Santa Monica Mountains face dire consequences if these “islands” of habitat are not connected. The cougars are genetically isolated, which causes inbreeding, and that means the mountain lions face local extinction. Corridors connecting other habitats and new females are needed to keep the populations genetically diverse. Read the Orange County Register article.
Our actions have consequences for the wildlife. Please don’t use rat poison … it makes its way up the food chain to the top predator.
The Transportation Corridor Agency is installing wildlife fencing on the 241 North to reduce car collisions with animals. The targeted animals are deer, coyotes, bobcats and cougars. To monitor their work there are multiple wildlife cameras both at jump offs, culverts and bridges. There are jump offs available to animals that may have reached the roadway accidentally and are looking for a way back “into” the habitat lands. Check out our photos on Facebook.