California votes to protect mountain lions under the state Endangered Species Act

The California Fish and Game Commission voted to protect mountain lions across most of the state under the state Endangered Species Act (CESA). In December 2025, the agency recommended protecting the Southern California and Central Coast mountain lion populations after a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and Mountain Lion Foundation in 2019.

In an effort supported by In Defense of Animals, the California Fish and Game Commission (CDFW) conducted a review prior to the vote to determine if the animal should be protected under the state’s Endangered Species Act.

“This is an epic win for California’s iconic big cats,” Katie Nolan, Wild Animals campaigner for In Defense of Animals, said. “Not only will protection give inherently valuable individuals a much-needed lifeline, it will have a cascading impact that will improve biodiversity.”

Supporters of the candidacy submitted 948 comments to the agency urging a vote to protect the “imperiled” mountain lion, according to a press release.

As mountain lion populations continue to decline due to numerous threats, “including vehicle strikes, competition, disease, the use of rodenticides, wildfires, and habitat loss and fragmentation,” this has led to “inbreeding and decreased genetic diversity,” the press release stated.

The vote secured the Southern California and Central Coast mountain lions as a distinct population segment (DPS) and listed both populations as threatened under CESA because of their vulnerability to these threats and becoming locally extinct.

“Mountain lion P-22’s rise to fame after being photographed in front of the Hollywood Sign raised much-needed awareness about the plight these big cats face as they try to navigate an increasingly developed world,” Nolan said. “It’s wonderful to see his legacy has helped grow public concern for their survival and now their protection.”