AGOURA (CBSLA.com) — A proposed first-of-its-kind $10 million wildlife bridge crossing is set to built near the 101 Freeway in Agoura, officials said Friday.
KNX 1070’s Bob Brill reports the plan is all about creating a safe passage near the Liberty Canyon area which would help connect large pieces of habitat located on either side of the freeway.
Over the last two years, several mountain lions have been killed crossing the 101 at Agoura Hills — most recently last October — and attempting to cross the San Diego (405) Freeway at Sepulveda Pass.
State Assemblyman Richard Bloom said the crossing is aimed at reducing the number of accidents involving motorists and wildlife making the road safer for drivers.
“For wildlife that have a large range, it’s very difficult to get from one side of the freeway to the other, and frequently they don’t try it at all or they’re met with such a consequence,” said Bloom.
The project is expected to secure federal funding along with state and possibly private funds as well, Bloom added.
Biologists have long worried that mountain lions were in-breeding because they were cut off from other lions in he wildlife areas around Simi Valley and further north.
Mountain lions eat deer, which biologists say plays an important part of the biology and ecological balance in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
There have been no attacks on humans in western Los Angeles County in recent years. In the past 20 years, two hikers were killed by mountain lions in Orange and San Diego counties.
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