Petition Title: Oppose the Proposed Threatened Listing of Central Coast and Southern California Mountain Lion Populations – Protect Ranchers' Ability to Manage Depredation and Safeguard Livestock Livelihoods

To the California Fish and Game Commission:

We, the undersigned ranchers, livestock producers, and concerned residents of California, respectfully urge the Commission to reject the proposed listing of Central Coast and Southern California mountain lion populations as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) during your meeting on February 11–12, 2026.

Mountain lions are not endangered in Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and surrounding counties. Listing them as Threatened would impose unnecessary and burdensome restrictions on ranchers and livestock producers, severely limiting our ability to protect livestock, guardian dogs, and property from repeated depredation. Such a listing could also lead to increased demands on the state budget for reimbursement, mitigation, monitoring, and other costs associated with endangered species protections, further straining California's fiscal resources and increasing the deficit.

Proof of rising attacks on livestock and homesteads in the last 5 years (2021–early 2026) There is clear evidence from recent cases and broader data showing mountain lions repeatedly targeting human-associated resources (livestock, pets, guardian dogs) near homes, ranches, or developed areas—often instead of (or in preference to) natural wild prey like deer. This aligns with anthropogenic habituation or food-conditioned behavior, where lions learn that human-linked food sources (e.g., penned goats/sheep/alpacas near houses, even on large properties) are easier and lower-risk than hunting deer in open habitat.

Specific signs of this problematic and escalating behavior include:

Surplus killing: Lions killing multiple animals (e.g., several goats at once) in a single attack, often leaving carcasses uneaten or partially consumed, then returning days later to repeat the pattern.
Repeated depredation on the same or nearby properties despite non-lethal deterrents (e.g., guardian dogs, night penning, hazing).
Bold approaches directly to residences and secure areas, bypassing abundant wild prey like deer.
Notable documented examples over the last 5 years include:

Corral de Tierra, Monterey County (late December 2025 – early January 2026): Almost nightly attacks for weeks, including family dogs dragged off porches, a miniature horse, goats (including a geep hybrid), and other livestock/pets. Many kills uneaten (surplus killing); lions entered porches, pens, and barns and remained despite human presence. CDFW issued three non-lethal depredation permits.
Lake County ranch (August 2025): 17 alpacas killed in 4 attacks over 10 days; multiple kills per event, lions bounding over fences.
Northern California cases (2023–2025): Examples include 27 lambs killed in one event (uneaten), multiple sheep/goats over days with some uneaten, and guardian dogs killed defending livestock.
Ongoing clusters in Central Coast regions (Monterey/San Luis Obispo counties, late 2025–early 2026): Multiple reports of surplus killing (several goats killed at once, uneaten), repeated returns to homesteads despite hazing (e.g., February 1, 2026 incident), and attacks on guardian dogs in secure areas—totaling 24+ losses in 60+ days in some localized areas.
These patterns indicate habituated, conflict-prone lions that pose ongoing economic hardship to ranchers and heightened safety risks near homes and families. Depredation incidents involving small hoofstock and pets have increased in fragmented rural-edge habitats, with lions shifting to human resources when deer are less accessible or when habituated to easy targets.

A Threatened listing would likely complicate or delay depredation permits under Fish and Game Code §4800–4809, even in verified high-conflict cases, while doing little to address the root causes of these attacks. Ranchers need timely, effective tools—including lethal removal when non-lethal measures fail—to protect their operations and livelihoods without unnecessary regulatory burdens.

We respectfully request that the Commission:

Reject the proposed Threatened listing for the Central Coast and Southern California populations.
Maintain or strengthen current depredation authority, including prompt lethal permits for repeat offenders showing surplus killing, habituation, and food-conditioned behavior.
Ensure any future management decisions prioritize the protection of livestock producers and rural families over additional restrictions that do not address escalating conflict.
We stand ready to provide additional evidence, including game camera photos, incident logs, and firsthand accounts from affected ranchers.

Please sign to add your voice!