3 Young Mountain Lions Found Dead In Santa Monica Mountains

THOUSAND OAKS (CBSLA.com) — Park officials Friday announced the deaths of three young mountain lions found in the Santa Monica Mountains.

On Sept. 30, P-34 was found by a runner on a trail in Point Mugu State Park, according to the National Park Service.

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"If you're a mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains, this is just not an easy place to grow up," said Dr. Seth Riley, wildlife ecologist for the National Park Service. "From our roads to rat poisons to potentially increased interactions with other mountain lions, it is very difficult for young animals to make it to adulthood and establish their own home range to reproduce."

Preliminary results of the necropsy revealed she died as a result of rodenticide, which is also known as rat poisoning. Wounds found on the mountain lion's face indicated a fight ensued right before her death.

According to research provided by the National Park Service, there has been widespread exposure to rat poisons among wildlife in and around the Santa Monica Mountains.

Officials said two additional mountain lions and many coyotes have died as a result of the poisoning.

National Park Service Biologist Jeff Sikich found the remains of 3-month-old P-43, along with its unknown 3-month-old sibling, located in a remote eastern area of the mountains in September.

Park officials said the young kittens were consumed by another animal. DNA results from UCLA will determine the species of the animal involved in the attack.

At this time, authorities do not believe someone deliberately poisoned the animals.