On Monday, California state wildlife officials issued a permit to kill P45, one of the only remaining adult male mountain lions in Santa Monica.  The permit was issued after P45 killed 11 alpacas and 1 goat over the weekend.  The killing of a person's livestock allows that person to seek a "depredation permit."  In this instance, the permit is for a 10-day period, and allows the hunt within 10 miles of the property.  

This property owner has a herd of prey animals adjacent to what was once wilderness and is still the natural range of the mountain lion.  While I understand that the killing of his alpacas is tragic, and may impact his livelihood, this does not justify the killing of the mountain lion.  The impact to one person's livelihood does not outweigh the damage to the ecosystem that will result from killing the mountain lion. In addition, this permit places all mountain lions within that 10-mile radius in danger. 

Please tell the Department of Fish and Wildlife to revoke the current permit and not issue any further permits.  We need to find a way to coexist with the animals whose homes we have encroached upon.