LOS ANGELES — Vehicle collisions with wildlife are a growing problem for the animals that live in close proximity to humans — putting additional pressure on populations already facing decline. A mountain lion that was tragically killed by a vehicle while trying to cross the 101 Freeway, only miles from the proposed site of a wildlife crossing, reinforces the need for better protections for these animals.

“I am devastated and heartbroken that yet another mountain lion has been senselessly killed trying to cross our roads, this time on the 101 Freeway very close to the site of the proposed wildlife crossing at Liberty Canyon. This magnificent mountain lion deserved better than this brutal death,” said Beth Pratt, California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation and leader of the #SaveLACougars campaign. “I don't often share graphic photos of wildlife, but it's important that we all understand the reality of what is at stake for California’smountain lions and how the same roads and highways that connect us with the wider world, are deadly barriers to these cats.

“These cats are fighting to survive and this animal’s tragic death is one more reminder that mountain lions will disappear from the Los Angeles area and other places in California if we don’t take action to protect them. Our team is working to solve this. The wildlife crossing at Liberty Canyon will help prevent these needless deaths and the extinction of this threatened population of mountain lions.”

The National Wildlife Federation leads the #SaveLACougars campaign to build what will be the largest wildlife crossing in the world over the 101 Freeway, with a target date to break ground of 2021. The crossing will help save a threatened population of mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains. The other primary partners in the effort include the National Park Service, Caltrans, the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

To learn more about the #SaveLACougars campaign to build the wildlife crossing at Liberty Canyon visit https://savelacougars.org/