Among the urban sprawl of greater Los Angeles, mountain lions are finding ways to adapt to humans by actively altering their daily routines.
A new study has shown how these elusive big cats modify their behaviour to avoid encounters with cyclists, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
The findings, recently published in Biological Conservation, reveal that mountain lions living in areas with higher human recreational activity are significantly more nocturnal than those residing in less populated, remote regions.
This behaviour, the researchers say, highlights a promising model for human-wildlife coexistence in densely populated areas.
Tracking mountain lions
In an area home to over 18 million people, natural spaces such as Griffith Park, the Santa Monica Mountains and the Verdugo Mountains are popular recreational destinations – they're also mountain lion habitat.
These regions represent critical wildlife corridors for mountain lions in the Los Angeles area, which must navigate both human-dominated and natural landscapes.
To investigate how the lions are responding to this unique environment, researchers from the University of California, Davis, Cal Poly Pomona and the National Park Service tracked the movements of 22 mountain lions across the Santa Monica Mountains and surrounding areas over a seven-year period, from 2011 to 2018.
Using GPS and accelerometer collars, biologists at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area were able to study the behaviour of the big cats in unprecedented detail.
Alongside GPS data from a public recreational activity database, the researchers examined how recreation levels influenced lion activity, offering insights into how human presence might impact local wildlife beyond the more obvious threats of road collisions and habitat fragmentation.
“These results are really important in that they show how humans may be affecting wildlife in less obvious ways than killing them with vehicles,” says Seth Riley, wildlife branch chief at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
“The study also continues to drive home the amazing fact that a population of a large felid predator persists in one of the largest urban areas in the world. That would not be possible if mountain lions weren’t able to adjust to human activity in ways like this.”
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A closer look
The study identified Griffith Park as hosting the highest levels of recreational activity, while quieter spots such as the Santa Susana Mountains and Los Padres National Forest saw far less human traffic. In response, mountain lions adapted their routines accordingly.
The study’s findings revealed that female lions were generally more active closer to sunrise and throughout the day, potentially to avoid encounters with males, which could pose a threat to them and their cubs. One notable individual, known as P13, roamed the central and western Santa Monica Mountains and was observed to be among the least nocturnal of the group.
In contrast, two male lions, inhabiting small, isolated patches of natural area with heavy recreational use, were among the most nocturnal animals studied. One of these, P41, lived within the Verdugo Mountains, a compact range surrounded by urban development and multiple motorways.
Known as 'Hollywood Cat', P22 was the study’s second most nocturnal lion, likely due to the high human presence in Griffith Park. Famous for his remarkable journey across two major Los Angeles freeways, P22 became a local legend before his death in 2022 at around 12 years old, one of the oldest lions in the study.
The authors note that mountain lions are not becoming accustomed to humans but are actively avoiding them. “The urban experiences of P41, P22 and others illustrate how, when faced with increased human activity, mountain lions actively seek to avoid people rather than becoming habituated to them,” the researchers explain.
Why is the study important?
While mountain lions are doing their part to adapt, Ellie Bolas, the study’s lead author and a Ph.D. candidate at UC Davis, says that people need to be mindful of their presence in lion habitats.
Recognising dawn and dusk as prime times for mountain lion activity is a simple yet effective way for recreationists to help ensure safety for themselves and these elusive cats. Drivers can also help by being vigilant at night when mountain lions are more likely to cross roads, Bolas adds.
In addition to facing human activity, Los Angeles’s mountain lions contend with other significant challenges, including busy roads, habitat fragmentation, exposure to rodenticides, low genetic diversity and periodic wildfires. Bolas explains that while outdoor recreation may seem harmless, it can add to the pressures these animals face by forcing them to expend more energy for essential activities such as hunting.
“Even something as innocuous as recreation can add to these other stressors we’re bringing into their lives,” Bolas says. “But we can feel a sense of optimism that they are flexible in the timing of their activity. Coexistence is happening, and it’s in large part because of what mountain lions are doing.”
As Los Angeles continues to expand, maintaining harmony with its wild neighbours requires conscious effort from all parties involved, Bolas concludes, and a little respect for the adaptable mountain lions striving to share their home with us.
Main image: P65 walks with her kittens. In a UC Davis study, female mountain lions were generally more active during the day and closer to sunrise, perhaps because they are constrained by avoiding male mountain lions and not able to respond as strongly to recreation/National Park Service
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