Mountain Lions Putting Fear Into Santa Monica Mountain Ranchers

October 12, 2016 

MALIBU (CBSLA.com) — Fear and concern is on the rise among ranchers living in the Santa Monica Mountains because they say mountain lions are on the attack, killing precious livestock.
CBS2’s Amy Johnson reports, they’re afraid they may kill humans next.

A lion named P45 is well known in the area but ranchers say he’s getting more and more hungry.
“He’s dangerous,” said Wendell Phillips. “This particular mountain lion has decided he has a taste for domestic animals and once they do that they usually don’t stop.”

Credit: Wendell Phillips

Phillips says the lion has killed five of his alpacas – also known as small llamas.

“I’d like to see the mountain lion relocated,” Phillips said.

Phillips was told by the National Parks Service it’s against policy to move the mountain lions and his livestock needs to be protected from dusk to dawn. Phillips says  it’s too costly to keep them locked up with high fences.

The mountain lions in the area have been observed for the last 14 years.

“When a mountain lion kills unprotected livestock it’s an easy meal for him,” Kate Kuykendall, of the National Parks Service, said. “It’s not a sign of aggressive or abnormal behavior.”

The National Parks Service said it will be offering workshops for ranchers on how to better protect their livestock.

“It’s grizzly, but it’s nature,” Kuykendall said.


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