LA-Area Mountain Lions Stay Up Late to Avoid Recreationists

A study published Nov. 15 in Biological Conservation reveals that mountain lions in the greater Los Angeles area are proactively adjusting their activity to avoid interacting with cyclists, hikers, joggers, and other outdoor recreationists.

The findings suggest that these apex predators are displaying remarkable flexibility in their behavior to share space with humans in an increasingly urbanized environment.

The research, led by Ellie Bolas from the University of California, Davis, alongside collaborators from Cal Poly Pomona and the National Park Service, tracked the movements of 22 mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains and surrounding areas from 2011 to 2018. Using GPS and accelerometer collars, the team analyzed how the lions adjusted their activity in response to human recreation.

The study found that mountain lions living in areas with higher human activity, such as Griffith Park, were more likely to be nocturnal, while those in more remote regions were active during dawn and dusk. The study’s authors suggest that this behavioral shift may allow mountain lions to avoid human encounters and thrive in these urban-adjacent habitats.

Bolas explained, “This flexibility we see in mountain lion activity is what allows us to share these natural areas together. Mountain lions are doing the work so that coexistence can happen.”

While the findings offer a hopeful perspective on human-wildlife coexistence, the study also underscores the pressures mountain lions face in heavily developed areas. With a population of over 18 million people, Los Angeles poses many challenges for wildlife, from busy roadways that often result in fatal collisions to habitat fragmentation.

The research highlighted that the most nocturnal of the lions in the study, including P41, a male from the Verdugo Mountains, lived in isolated natural areas surrounded by development and high recreational use. Meanwhile, P13, a female from the central Santa Monica Mountains, was among the least nocturnal, possibly to avoid male lions that pose a threat to her and her kittens.

Seth Riley, wildlife branch chief at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, noted, “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.”

While the study highlights how mountain lions are adjusting to human encroachment, experts warn that people still have a role in minimizing conflicts. Awareness of peak lion activity during dawn and dusk, as well as exercising caution while driving at night, can help reduce the risk of encounters.

Despite the challenges posed by urbanization, wildfires, and habitat fragmentation, the study offers a positive outlook on the potential for human-wildlife coexistence, largely due to the mountain lions’ ability to adapt to their changing environment.