California Commission Lists Mountain Lions as Threatened Species, Impacting Development Projects
The California Fish and Game Commission has officially listed mountain lions within the Central Coast and Southern California Distinct Population Segment (SC/CC DPS) as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). This decision affects a wide geographical area, including parts of the San Francisco Bay Area down to California's southern border, covering several counties such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and Ventura. The listing provides full species protections, prohibiting any unpermitted 'take' of mountain lions, which includes hunting, capturing, or killing. Violators face significant civil and criminal penalties. The decision is expected to impact various development projects across the affected regions, as project proponents will need to acquire incidental take permits (ITP) to ensure that any impact on the mountain lions is minimized and fully mitigated.