Mountain Lions In Riverside, San Bernardino Counties Get Protected Status

More than 1,400 mountain lions will get new protection in the state.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted to list six isolated mountain lion populations in Southern California and the Central Coast as "threatened" under the state's Endangered Species Act. This new designation means the pumas are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future and require protective measures to prevent further decline.

Why it matters

The Southern and Central California lions are losing genetic diversity due to habitat loss and also face other dangers, such as raging wildfires, rodenticide poisoning, and collisions with vehicles. The new protection provides a legal mandate for state agencies to protect the cats, gives wildlife officials the authority to develop a recovery plan, and requires proposed developments near lion habitats to be more wildlife-friendly.

The details

More than 1,400 mountain lions living in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Central Coast, Santa Monica Mountains, San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains, Santa Ana Mountains, and Eastern Peninsular ranges will now be protected under the Endangered Species Act. Mountain lions in California's northern mountain communities were not granted the same protection because they are faring better than their southern relatives. In total, the Golden State is home to roughly 4,172 mountain lions.

  • On Thursday, Feb. 12, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted to list the six isolated mountain lion populations as "threatened".
  • For nearly a decade, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Mountain Lion Foundation petitioned the commission to consider listing the lion populations.

The players

California Fish and Game Commission

The state agency that unanimously voted to list six isolated mountain lion populations as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

Center for Biological Diversity

An environmental organization that petitioned the commission for nearly a decade to consider listing the lion populations.

Mountain Lion Foundation

An organization that petitioned the commission for nearly a decade to consider listing the lion populations.

Daniel Applebee

An official from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife who stated it will take decades to restore genetic diversity among the small, isolated populations of mountain lions living in the state's southern areas.

Erika Zavaleta

A commissioner who said the Southern and Central California lions aren't facing imminent extinction, but they could in the near future, and that "it's better for us to take action before we get to that point."

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What they’re saying

“I believe it's better for us to take action before we get to that point.”

— Erika Zavaleta, Commissioner (Patch.com)

“It's going to take decades to restore genetic diversity among the small, isolated populations of mountain lions living in the state's southern areas.”

— Daniel Applebee, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Patch.com)

What’s next

The new protection provides a legal mandate for state agencies to protect the cats, gives wildlife officials the authority to develop a recovery plan, and requires proposed developments near lion habitats to be more wildlife-friendly. Future efforts could include constructing more wildlife crossings and imposing stricter restrictions on rat poison.

The takeaway

The unanimous decision by the California Fish and Game Commission to list six isolated mountain lion populations as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act is a significant step in protecting these big cats and their habitats in Southern California. This action will help address the threats these lions face, including habitat loss, wildfires, poisoning, and vehicle collisions, and give wildlife officials the tools they need to develop a recovery plan and ensure the long-term survival of these iconic predators.