California Fish and Game Commission Lists Mountain Lions as Threatened Species in Central and Southern California
The California Fish and Game Commission has unanimously voted to list mountain lion populations in parts of central and southern California as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). This decision affects the Southern California and Central Coast Distinct Population Segment (SC/CC DPS), which includes six genetic populations spanning from the San Francisco Bay Area to California's southern border. The listing aims to protect mountain lions in these regions, prohibiting any unpermitted 'take' of the species, which includes hunting, capturing, or killing. Violators of this prohibition face significant civil and criminal penalties. The decision impacts various counties, including Alameda, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, and others, while excluding certain southeastern desert areas and intensively farmed lands. 
