LION POPULATIONS. WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? WELL, A DECISION THAT IS MADE HERE AT THE CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON MOUNTAIN LIONS IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SPECIFICALLY ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY’S FISH AND GAME COMMISSION MEETING, MEMBERS WILL CONSIDER AND POTENTIALLY ACT ON A PETITION, A STATUS REVIEW REPORT, AND COMMENTS RECEIVED BY THE COMMISSION, AND THEN THEY’LL DECIDE IF IT’S WARRANTED TO LIST SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND CENTRAL COAST MOUNTAIN LION POPULATIONS AS ENDANGERED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. WILDLIFE ADVOCATES SAY THOSE BIG CATS NEED PROTECTIONS BECAUSE THEY FACE THREATS FROM DEVELOPMENT, ROADWAYS AND EVEN RODENT POISON THAT’S OUT IN THE ENVIRONMENT, THE COMMISSION’S VOTE APPLIES TO PUMA POPULATIONS IN THE SANTA CRUZ CENTRAL COAST, SANTA MONICA, SAN GABRIEL, SAN BERNARDINO AND SANTA ANA MOUNTAIN RANGES, ALONG WITH THE EASTERN PENINSULAR RANGES. BACK OUT HERE LIVE. THAT COMMISSION MEETING IS SET TO GET UNDERWAY AT 830 THIS MORNING. YOU CAN ATTEND IN PERSON IF YOU’D LIKE TO WEIGH IN THAT WAY OR ATTEND ONLINE VIA ZOOM, AND WE’LL HAVE A LINK TO THAT ZOOM MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE, KCRA.COM. A LITTLE BIT LAT
California officials move to protect mountain lion under state’s Endangered Species Act
Protection would apply to central and southern California puma populations
Updated: 2:04 PM PST Feb 12, 2026
As of Thursday, pumas — also known as mountain lions —throughout the Central Coast and Southern California will have better protections now that they are considered endangered.The California Fish and Game Commission voted in favor of increasing protections for the mountain lions through the state’s Endangered Species Act. Wildlife advocates argued the cats need protections because they face threats from development, roadways and even rodent poison in the environment.”These puma populations face so many threats,” a statement by Tiffany Yap, the urban wildlands science director for the California Center for Biological Diversity, read. “Poorly planned roads and development are boxing them in and causing harmful genetic isolation. They’re killed on our roads, getting sick and dying from rat poisons, and getting trapped in wildfires. California’s Endangered Species Act became law to help struggling species, so they don’t disappear. This is exactly the kind of help mountain lions need.”The commission’s vote applies to puma populations in the Santa Cruz, Central Coast, Santa Monica, San Gabriel, San Bernardino and Santa Ana mountains, along with the Eastern Peninsular ranges.A release from the Fish and Game Commission explains that the move to protect the pumas began in 2019 after the Center for Biological Diversity and Mountain Lion Foundation filed a petition in defense of the animals. In response, the Fish and Game Commission voted to consider candidacy for the Endangered Species Act. That triggered the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine if mountain lions should make the list.In December 2025, CDFW recommended moving forward with placing the animals under the Endangered Species Act. Prior to Thursday’s vote, mountain lions were classified as a specially-protected mammal.Since Fish and Game voted in favor, state agencies will now have to take steps to address threats they face from the Bay Area to the Mexico border. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
As of Thursday, pumas — also known as mountain lions —throughout the Central Coast and Southern California will have better protections now that they are considered endangered.
The California Fish and Game Commission voted in favor of increasing protections for the mountain lions through the state’s Endangered Species Act.
Wildlife advocates argued the cats need protections because they face threats from development, roadways and even rodent poison in the environment.
“These puma populations face so many threats,” a statement by Tiffany Yap, the urban wildlands science director for the California Center for Biological Diversity, read. “Poorly planned roads and development are boxing them in and causing harmful genetic isolation. They’re killed on our roads, getting sick and dying from rat poisons, and getting trapped in wildfires. California’s Endangered Species Act became law to help struggling species, so they don’t disappear. This is exactly the kind of help mountain lions need.”
The commission’s vote applies to puma populations in the Santa Cruz, Central Coast, Santa Monica, San Gabriel, San Bernardino and Santa Ana mountains, along with the Eastern Peninsular ranges.
A release from the Fish and Game Commission explains that the move to protect the pumas began in 2019 after the Center for Biological Diversity and Mountain Lion Foundation filed a petition in defense of the animals. In response, the Fish and Game Commission voted to consider candidacy for the Endangered Species Act. That triggered the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine if mountain lions should make the list.
In December 2025, CDFW recommended moving forward with placing the animals under the Endangered Species Act. Prior to Thursday’s vote, mountain lions were classified as a specially-protected mammal.
Since Fish and Game voted in favor, state agencies will now have to take steps to address threats they face from the Bay Area to the Mexico border.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel