In 2015, he got trapped underneath a house, creating a media circus – and a desperate problem-solving effort to get him out. That led to a public outcry about the availability of such poisons, and in October 2020 California passed into law AB 1788, which bans the use of the most lethal anticoagulant rodenticides. In 2014, he became sick after eating an animal that had been killed with rodenticide. Scientists point out that P22 lives in an urban park visited by millions of people and is rarely seen.Ī few times over the past years, P22 has found himself in hot water. P22 has never posed danger to people, choosing to coexist peacefully and lurk in the night, keeping his distance from human neighbors. “There was a lot of nervousness from residents.” Hans said he wanted to be sensitive about how others would take the news: “We released a study report of the camera traps, and gently slipped it in that there was a mountain lion,” he says. ![]() But he and biologists in the park were startled to discover that, alongside the coyotes, bobcats and foxes, their cameras picked up the unmistakable image of a mountain lion. ![]() Hans, the president of the nonprofit Friends of Griffith Park, had just brainstormed a camera trap survey of the park, to see what kinds of creatures were making the area home. Gerry Hans still remembers the remarkable day that P22 was found. Griffith Park, a 4,000-acre park tucked in the Hollywood hills, is visited by millions. He was soon fitted with a collar to track his movements, and the city started to fall in love. When he was caught on film in Griffith Park, he probably hadn’t been there for very long. He eventually found the wilderness of Griffith Park to set up his range – at 8 sq miles, it’s probably the smallest roaming territory of any known mountain lion (typically a male cat’s territory is 150 sq miles). Sometime around 2012, P22 left the Santa Monica mountains and set off on a remarkable 50-mile journey that took him across two major Los Angeles freeways, evading traffic and human detection. P stands for puma and the number corresponds to the individual cat that is part of a scientific study by National Park Service biologists, who are researching mountain lions in the Santa Monica mountains. P22’s journey to Griffith Park began many miles away in the Santa Monica mountains, which have been home to 100 lions and where P22 was born, around 2010. Emaciated lions also tend to be more aggressive.Pratt points out that in any other part of the country, P22 probably would have been removed or killed. When they are hungry, they can seek out food sources they wouldn't usually approach, such as people's pets. Mountain lions found in populated areas are often emaciated and in poor condition. This will only usually happen if the lion feels threatened.Īn autopsy of the animal determined it had been a female in good condition. Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare, but can happen if they come into close contact with people. It probably felt threatened and it swatted at her as she entered." Sean Shepherd, CPW area wildlife manager based in Salida, said in a statement that the lion had likely been looking for an "easy meal" in the chicken coop. Officers from CPW arrived at the house shortly after the incident and euthanized the lion. The lion left a puncture wound on the girl's face and she received treatment at the Chaffee County hospital. ![]() An 11-year-old girl in Colorado opened a chicken coop to find a lion lurking inside.
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