In the densely populated Bay Area, Midpen preserves provide critical remaining habitat for native wildlife, such as mountain lions, and nearby nature for people. Midpen began new mountain lion conservation research in the fall of 2020 to learn more about how mountain lions use open space lands also frequently visited by people. The results will help guide Midpen’s science-based land management.
Mountain lions, also known as pumas and cougars, play an important role as keystone predators in our local ecosystem. Their primary food source is deer, but they can also prey on smaller animals like raccoons, rabbits and even wild turkeys.
Find out how to identify a mountain lion, what to do if you encounter one and how to stay safe on the trails.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Midpen’s nearly 70,000 acres of preserved public open space provide prime habitat for mountain lions, a top predator in our region facing many challenges in our region. We’re working to protect regional mountain lion populations by preserving habitat, increasing habitat connectivity through the Highway 17 Wildlife Crossing Project, promoting rodenticide regulations and supporting research that improves our understanding of lion populations, ecology and behavior throughout our region of influence.
Midpen is supporting a study on safe, effective methods for deterring wildlife and livestock interactions, the results of which will guide Midpen and others in making science-based land management decisions that can help wildlife, people and livestock safely coexist.
During a public process to update Midpen’s conservation grazing policy, including a comprehensive review of available scientific literature, the need for this research became apparent. As a direct result, a 5-year collaborative study began in late 2023, designed and conducted by scientists from the nonprofit wildlife conservation group Panthera, Colorado State University, the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Santa Cruz Puma Project.
Protecting wildlife, such as mountain lions and coyotes, is core to Midpen’s mission. On the San Mateo County Coast, Midpen’s mission also includes supporting viable agriculture which is primarily done through Midpen’s conservation grazing program. Preventing mountain lions and coyotes from preying on livestock is one of many ways Midpen and others can help protect these native wildlife species that play an important role in the natural ecosystem.
