Last updated: January 20, 2023
Article
Puma Profiles: P-99
Female
Initial capture date: Sept. 8, 2021
Our 99th study mountain lion was captured on Sept. 8, 2021. P-99 is a female cat estimated to be around 2-3 years old. She was found in the western portion of the Santa Monica Mountains.
While the young mountain lion was anesthetized, a full work-up was performed that included collecting biological samples, taking morphological measurements, attaching an eartag, conducting a physical exam, and fitting a GPS radio-collar on her. She weighed 75 pounds at the time of capture.
Our biologists at the park have captured and studied 99 individual mountain lions including dozens of litters of kittens. What the “99” in P-99 signifies is that this is the 99th mountain lion to be captured and studied by our biologists.
Mountain lions need sufficient prey and habitat to survive, and we estimate that the Santa Monica Mountains (south of the 101 and west of the 405) can support around 10-15 mountain lions. This number does not include kittens.