Mountain Lion Conservation Research

Human-Mountain Lion Interaction Study

Midpen is working in partnership with the Santa Cruz Puma Project and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in preserves with high visitation. We are fitting mountain lions with temporary tracking collars that provide GPS information similar to fitness trackers. The collars do not adversely affect the mountain lions and automatically fall off after a designated amount of time. This science is humanely conducted and is aimed at the long-term conservation of these important native predators. 

Collaring began in Midpen's Rancho San Antonio and Monte Bello open space preserves in December 2020. The collaring effort may eventually expand to other highly visited preserves, including Fremont Older and Picchetti Ranch and other preserves. 

Behavior Modification Study

While mountain lions generally flee the sound of human voices, some that live near heavily populated areas may become used to human noise and traffic making them less likely to follow their instincts and avoid humans. In the next phase of the research study, the Puma Project will be testing safe and humane ways to encourage mountain lions to avoid human contact to reduce human-lion conflicts. Although attacks by mountain lions are rare and are generally not fatal to humans, mountain lions that attack humans are almost always euthanized. Mountain lions that attack humans are considered a human safety risk and are euthanized by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to protect the public.

To reinforce their instinctual fear of humans, Puma Project researchers will attempt to associate human voices with behavior modification methods to encourage collared mountain lions in the study to avoid humans. Collared mountain lions will be carefully monitored to quantify the response to these actions to determine if behavior modification can be used as an effective management tool to keep mountain lions wild.

Learn more about some of the mountain lions in Midpen preserves

To date, three mountain lions have been collared for this study in Midpen preserves. Two additional mountain lions with territories that overlap with Midpen preserves have also been collared and are being tracked as part of the study.

There are a number of collared lions within the Santa Cruz Mountains and the data captured from these lions will allow for direct comparisons between lion behavior in areas with high levels of human activity and other locations where human activity is lower. 

Wildlife Camera Study

In the fall of 2020, Midpen biologists began using a scientific grid system of motion-activated still cameras, currently only in Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, to learn more about the movement, abundance and diversity of mountain lions and other wildlife. Cameras are positioned and used for wildlife research only. 

Learn more about the camera study, see some of the first images and let us know about your interest in volunteering on the Wildlife Photo Index Research Project web page.

Watch Midpen Resource Management Specialist Matt Sharp Chaney's presentation on mountain lion conservation research.