Cougar Crosses Busy LA Freeway Safely

7 Sep 2017

In Thousand Oaks, California, researchers recently discovered a rare case of a Santa Monica Mountains cougar that successfully crossed U.S. Highway 101. The animal then moved into a quieter range.

The subadult male big cat, named P-55, managed to cross the highway early on July 30. It traveled along the Conjeo Grade 72 Kilometers west of downtown L.A. The animal also crossed State Routes 23 and 118 where it successfully got to the Santa Susana Mountains.

The event is only the fourth ever known crossing of the 101 in the last 15 years. Researchers have been studying the Santa Monica Mountains big cats throughout that time. The population suffers from various threats to their wellbeing. These include a lack of genetic diversity and inbreeding due to the fact that the mountain range is closed off by the Pacific Ocean and L.A. and its western suburbs.

Male mountain lions need vast expanses of individual territory. The area frequented by the animals in question poses a hindrance to dispersal due to the 101 that has three or more lanes facing in each direction. There’s also the fragmented wilds of the mountain range to take into consideration.

The roads in the area are life-threatening to lions. To date, there have been 17 documented road kills since 2002. Wildlife ecologist at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area Seth Riley explained that GPS trackers have observed a pattern of lions coming up to the edge of a freeway and then turning around.

Male lions tend to leave their mothers at around 1.5 years of age. They then go on to find their own territories. Males can live in a territory with many females, however, when males encroach on each other’s territories, there can often be battles to the death. According to information from the park service, studies have shown that Santa Monica mountain lions rarely survive beyond the age of two.

Researchers put a GPS tracking collar on P-55 to track his movements. He was also caught on video in the backyard of a home in Newbury Park the weekend he made his crossing.

Experts are debating whether building a bridge to enable wildlife to safely cross the 101 could help save more of these majestic animals from death.

Readers can review the tagged puma profiles on the National Park Service website, read about the study, and see the mountain lions tracking.

You Are Here: LiveViewGPS Blog » Cougar Crosses Busy LA Freeway Safely

About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.