On a quiet Sunday evening in Malibu, a mountain lion was shot and killed after being suspected of attacking an 11-year-old girl. Thankfully, she is expected to make a full recovery—but the lion will never roam the Santa Monica Mountains again.

This tragedy is part of a larger crisis. As our neighborhoods expand deeper into wild spaces, mountain lions are left with fragmented habitats, shrinking territories, and fewer safe passages. When we cut off their access to food and mates, we push them into dangerous proximity with people—and too often, the result is the death of the animal.

The Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills is a proven, life-saving solution. Once completed, it will reconnect critical mountain lion habitats separated by the 101 freeway, improving genetic diversity and reducing dangerous encounters. But this project is just one step. We also need robust public education in communities like Malibu, Topanga, and Agoura Hills—teaching residents how to coexist peacefully with wildlife, secure outdoor food sources, and prevent conflict before it happens.

We should not have to choose between human safety and the survival of these magnificent big cats. Both can be protected—if we give them the space they need and give ourselves the tools to live alongside them.

We call on California state leaders, Caltrans, and the National Park Service to:

• Fast-track completion of the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing and invest in additional habitat connectivity projects.
• Launch a comprehensive coexistence education campaign in high-wildlife areas, equipping residents with simple, effective tools to keep both people and animals safe.

Every time a mountain lion dies because of human expansion, we lose more than just an animal—we lose part of California’s wild heritage. Let’s act now to protect both our communities and the species that have called these mountains home for centuries.

Sign to demand swift action for safe crossings and safe coexistence.