Proposition 117, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the June 5, 1990, statewide primary election, enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. The act classifies the mountain lion as a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state, and makes it unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or any part or product thereof. The act authorizes the take of mountain lions under limited circumstances, including by authorizing the Department of Fish and Wildlife, or an appropriate local agency authorized by the department, to remove or take any mountain lion that is perceived to be an imminent threat to public health or safety. Existing law permits the department, as the department determines is necessary to protect mountain lions or the public, to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to implement nonlethal procedures, which are defined as procedures that may include, among other things, capturing, pursuing, or hazing mountain lions. Existing law permits the department to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to conduct scientific research involving mountain lions pursuant to a scientific collecting permit, as specified.

This bill would require the department, contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature, to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in a specified region of the state in order to protect public health and safety, including by exercising its authority to authorize nonlethal procedures. The bill would require the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans. In implementing these programs, the bill would require the department to engage in specified public outreach activities in a specified region of the state. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2033.

The bill would require the department to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2031, describing these programs, the results of the programs, the number of department personnel involved in the programs, and recommendations to further improve the programs to protect human health and safety. The bill would require the Director of Fish and Wildlife, until the 2034 calendar year, to appear on an annual basis at a hearing before one of specified committees of the Legislature when requested, to appear before the appropriate policy or budget committees of the Assembly and Senate to provide a status update on the programs.

The California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 prohibits the Legislature from changing the act, with specified exceptions, except by a ⁴/₅ vote of the membership of both houses of the Legislature and then only if consistent with, and in furtherance of, the purposes of the act.

This bill would declare that it is consistent with, and furthers the purposes of, that act.

Proposition 117, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the June 5, 1990, statewide primary election, enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. The act classifies the mountain lion as a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state, and makes it unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or any part or product thereof. The act authorizes the take of mountain lions under limited circumstances, including by authorizing the Department of Fish and Wildlife, or an appropriate local agency authorized by the department, to remove or take any mountain lion that is perceived to be an imminent threat to public health or safety. Existing law permits the department, as the department determines is necessary to protect mountain lions or the public, to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to implement nonlethal procedures, which are defined as procedures that may include, among other things, capturing, pursuing, or hazing mountain lions. Existing law permits the department to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to conduct scientific research involving mountain lions pursuant to a scientific collecting permit, as specified.

This bill would require the department department, contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature, to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in a specified region of the state in order to protect public health and safety, including by exercising its authority to authorize nonlethal procedures. The bill would require the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans. In implementing these programs, the bill would require the department to engage in specified public outreach activities. activities in a specified region of the state. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2033.

The bill would require the department to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2031, describing these programs, the results of the programs, the number of department personnel involved in the programs, and recommendations to further improve the programs to protect human health and safety. The bill would require the Director of Fish and Wildlife, until the 2034 calendar year, to appear on an annual basis at a hearing before one of specified committees of the Legislature to provide a status update on the programs.

The California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 prohibits the Legislature from changing the act, with specified exceptions, except by a ⁴/₅ vote of the membership of both houses of the Legislature and then only if consistent with, and in furtherance of, the purposes of the act.

This bill would declare that it is consistent with, and furthers the purposes of, that act.

Proposition 117, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the June 5, 1990, statewide primary election, enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. The act classifies the mountain lion as a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state, and makes it unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or any part or product thereof. The act authorizes the take of mountain lions under limited circumstances, including by authorizing the Department of Fish and Wildlife, or an appropriate local agency authorized by the department, to remove or take any mountain lion that is perceived to be an imminent threat to public health or safety. Existing law permits the department, as the department determines is necessary to protect mountain lions or the public, to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to implement nonlethal procedures, which are defined as procedures that may include, among other things, capturing, pursuing, or hazing mountain lions. Existing law permits the department to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to conduct scientific research involving mountain lions pursuant to a scientific collecting permit, as specified.

This bill would require the department to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in order to protect public health and safety, including by exercising its authority to authorize nonlethal procedures. The bill would require the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans. In implementing these programs, the bill would require the department to engage in specified public outreach activities. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2033.

The bill would require the department to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2031, describing these programs, the results of the programs, the number of department personnel involved in the programs, and recommendations to further improve the programs to protect human health and safety. The bill would require the Director of Fish and Wildlife, until the 2034 calendar year, to appear on an annual basis at a hearing before one of specified committees of the Legislature to provide a status update on the programs.

The California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 prohibits the Legislature from changing the act, with specified exceptions, except by a ⁴/₅ vote of the membership of both houses of the Legislature and then only if consistent with, and in furtherance of, the purposes of the act.

This bill would declare that it is consistent with, and furthers the purposes of, that act.

Date of Hearing: August 5, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1397

Author:(Alvarado-Gil) – As Amended Ver:July 1, 2026

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program.

Specifically, this bill, among other things:

1. Requires CDFW, upon appropriation, to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in the region most impacted by human-mountain lion conflict, as identified by CDFW, to protect public health and safety.
2. Requires the program to include public education and outreach regarding methods to minimize conflict, including methods to protect livestock and domestic animals, and the development of best practices to minimize conflicts.
3. Requires CDFW to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans, including improving understanding of the factors contributing to human-mountain lion conflicts.
4. Requires CDFW to consult with the Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) and local agencies to ensure CDFW and CDFW-supported research activities pursuant to this bill conform to law and regulation.
5. States it is the intent of the Legislature that CDFW work closely with the community and local leaders in the region CDWF identifies as the most impacted by human-mountain lion conflict (see item 1, above) and requires CDFW to attend public meetings of local governments in the region to provide updates on the human-mountain lion conflicts program, research activities, and depredation permitting.
6. Requires the director of CDFW, when requested, to appear before the appropriate policy or budget committees of the Assembly and Senate to provide updates on the human-mountain lion conflict program and research activities.
7. Requires CDFW to submit a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2031, describing the programs developed pursuant to this bill, as specified.
8. Provides that the provisions of this bill sunset on January 1, 2033, except the provisions relating to reporting to the Legislature, which sunset on January 1, 2036.
9. Includes a finding stating this bill is consistent with, and furthers the purposes of, the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 (accordingly, the bill requires a four-fifths vote).

FISCAL EFFECT:

Ongoing annual costs to CDFW for wildlife incident response, depredation investigations, conflict mitigation, law enforcement, scientific research, data collection, forensic analyses, wildlife health and disease surveillance, and public education and outreach.

For its part, CDFW estimates costs of approximately $3.9 million in fiscal year (FY) 2027-28 and $3.2 million in FY 2028-29 and ongoing for 10 permanent positions (environmental scientists, fish and game lieutenant specialists, research scientists, and interpreters), four limited-term fish and wildlife scientific aids, seven vehicles, and equipment (such trailers, live traps, animal transport crates, wildlife health and disease surveillance supplies, and diagnostic testing).

The author of this bill has requested $15 million in one-time funding (General Fund) in the FY 2026-27 budget to support CDFW’s human-mountain lion conflict efforts.

The FY 2026-27 budget includes $1 million in one-time funding (Fish and Game Preservation Fund) to allow CDFW to use existing Environmental License Plate Fund resources to temporarily support its Coexisting with Wildlife Initiative, which the department argues will allow for proactive mitigation of human-wildlife conflict and foster safe coexistence with native wildlife in California.

CDFW has experienced longstanding budget challenges despite repeated efforts over many years to address them. The department’s service-based budgeting (SBB) analysis for FY 2023-24 indicates the department is funded for only one-third of its mandated program work. The SBB effort highlights the degree to which CDFW operates with significant gaps between what is required to achieve its mandated mission and the level at which it is currently funded.

COMMENTS:

1) Purpose. According to the author:

Human-mountain lion encounters have been increasing across the state in the past few years putting the public at serious risk of harm. A young man was killed in my district in 2024 and his brother seriously injured by a mountain lion. We need to do more to protect the public. [This bill] seeks to build upon [CDFW]’s Human-Mountain Lion Conflicts Program by requiring them to enhance and expand their program to protect public health and safety.

2) Background. Mountain Lions in California. According to CDFW, mountain lions are native to California and the second largest felid in North and South America. They have the largest range of any carnivore in North America and inhabit diverse habitat types throughout the state. They are reclusive and solitary animals, mostly avoiding people when possible. CDFW estimates there are just over 4,000 mountain lions in California today. Habitat loss and fragmentation (including by roadways) are among the greatest threats to mountain lion populations. Continued encroachment by humans into mountain lion habitat increasingly drives conflict between the species. Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare, but there is a long history of such conflict in California. As noted by the author, the most recent fatal attack occurred on March 23, 2024, in El Dorado County.

A property owner whose livestock or pets have been injured or killed by a mountain lion (depredation) may request a depredation permit to “take” the offending animal. CDFW prioritizes non-lethal approaches (using a “three strikes” strategy), as feasible. The total number of depredations has increased over time, with a large increase in the proportion of depredation events involving pets and poultry. The evolving and conflicting views of Californians about mountain lions are evident from the unique management history of the species. For a detailed discussion of this management history – including the passage of Proposition 117 (the Wildlife Protection Act of 1990), CDFW’s Mountain Lion Conservation Program, and a recent listing of mountain lion populations in parts of southern California and the central coast as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act – please see the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee’s analysis of this bill.

Human-Wildlife Conflict Program. CDFW is responsible for managing human-wildlife conflict at the state level, with a variety of tools, programs, and activities to prevent and mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Until recently, the department maintained a human-wildlife conflict program, which helped communities develop tools and provided statewide support for human-wildlife conflict management. The program received one-time funding in the 2021 budget act; however, most of the limited-term positions created for the program were eliminated in 2024. CDFW has received additional related funding over the years for, among other things, its wolf compensation program and other conflict management efforts.

3) Related Legislation. SB 1135 (Blakespear) of the current legislative session requires CDFW to establish the Wildlife Coexistence Program to manage and promote wildlife coexistence. SB 1135 is pending in this committee.

Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: June 30, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE

Diane Papan, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1397

Author:(Alvarado-Gil) – As Amended Ver:May 14, 2026

SENATE VOTE: 39-0

SUBJECT: Mountain Lions: human-mountain lion conflicts program: scientific research

SUMMARY: Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to establish a human-mountain lion conflicts program in the CDFW region most impacted by human-mountain lion conflict. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires CDFW, contingent upon appropriation by the Legislature, to maintain, enhance, and expand a human-mountain lion conflicts program in order to protect public health and safety.
2. Provides the human-mountain lion conflicts program must:
   1. Be located in the CDFW region that has been most impacted by human-mountain lion conflict, as identified by CDFW based on depredation reports, reported mountain lion incidents, or other relevant factors;
   2. Include CDFW exercising its authority to protect mountain lions or the public by authorizing nonlethal procedures to remove or take mountain lions that are not designated as imminent threats to public health or safety;
   3. Include public education and outreach regarding methods to minimize conflict, including methods to protect livestock and domestic animals; and
   4. Include the development of best practices to minimize conflicts.
3. Requires CDFW to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter human-mountain lion conflicts.
4. Requires CDFW to consult with the Department of Parks and Recreation and local agencies to ensure that CDFW and CDFW-supported research activities conform to law and regulation.
5. States that it is the intent of the Legislature that CDFW work closely with the community and local leaders in the region identified pursuant to #2a and requires CDFW to attend public meetings of local governments in the region to provide updates on the human-mountain lion conflicts program, research activities, and depredation permitting.
6. Requires the Director of CDFW to appear annually until 2034 at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water or the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife to provide updates on the human-mountain lion conflict program and research activities.
7. Requires CDFW to submit a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2031 describing the programs developed pursuant to this bill.
8. Provides that all provisions of this bill sunset on January 1, 2033, except the provisions relating to reporting to the Legislature, which sunset on January 1, 2036.
9. States that the Legislature finds and declares that this bill is consistent with, and furthers the purposes of, the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990.
10. Makes various findings and declarations relating to the impact of human-mountain lion conflict, especially in El Dorado County; the consequences of funding challenges facing CDFW on human-wildlife conflict programs; and the need for broad consensus to amend the state’s mountain lion laws.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes CDFW to manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment of the public [Fish and Game Code (FGC) § 712.1].
2. Provides that it is the policy of the state both to perpetuate all species of wildlife for their intrinsic and ecological values and to alleviate economic losses or public health or safety problems caused by wildlife (FGC § 1801).
3. Defines “take” to mean to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill (FGC § 86).
4. Provides that the mountain lion is a specially protected mammal under state law, and provides that it is unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell a mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion, except as provided (FGC § 4800).
5. Authorizes CDFW to remove or take any mountain lion, or authorize a local public safety agency to remove or take any mountain lion, that is an imminent threat to public health, safety, or the survival of any threatened, endangered, candidate, or fully protected sheep species (FGC § 4801).
6. Permits CDFW to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to use nonlethal procedures to remove or take any mountain lion that is not an imminent threat to public health or safety, if CDFW determines that the nonlethal procedures are necessary to protect mountain lions or the public (FGC § 4801.5).
7. Requires CDFW to promptly issue a depredation permit to take a mountain lion upon confirmation of a report of injury to property or livestock; authorizes the owner of livestock or domestic animals to immediately take a mountain lion in the act of pursuing, injuring, or killing livestock or domestic animals; and requires the take of the mountain lion to be reported to CDFW and the carcass surrendered (FGC §§ 4802–4807).
8. Authorizes CDFW to issue scientific collecting permits for scientific research projects involving mountain lions (FGC § 4810).
9. Provides that mountain lions are game mammals, but that notwithstanding that provision or any other provision of the FGC, mountain lions may not be listed as, or considered to be, a game mammal by CDFW or the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) (FGC §§ 3950–3950.1).
10. Provides that amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1990 must be consistent with, and further the purposes of, that Act and can only be made by a four-fifths vote of the Legislature [Proposition 117 (1990) § 8].

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill is keyed fiscal.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose of this bill. According to the author, “Human-mountain lion encounters have been increasing across the state in the past few years putting the public at serious risk of harm. A young man was killed in my district in 2024 and his brother seriously injured by a mountain lion. We need to do more to protect the public. [This bill] seeks to build upon [CDFW]’s Human-Mountain Lion Conflicts Program by requiring them to enhance and expand their program to protect public health and safety.”
2. Background. The North American mountain lion (Puma concolor cougar) is the second largest cat species in North America; also known as the cougar, puma, catamount, or panther, its historic range extends from southern Canada to the slopes of the Andes Mountains, including all of the contiguous United States. While the eastern population has been largely extirpated (with the exception of the Florida panther), the overall western population is stable.^[1] Habitat loss and fragmentation (including by roadways) are among the greatest threats to mountain lion populations. Continued encroachment by humans into mountain lion habitat increasingly drives conflict between the species.

Mountain lion-human conflict. Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare, but there is a long history of such conflict in California, perhaps dating as far back as 1890, when seven-year-old Arthur Dangle of Siskiyou County became the first recorded victim of a fatal mountain lion attack. CDFW has recorded 29 confirmed mountain lion attacks on people in the 136 years since, including five fatalities.^[2] The most recent fatal attack occurred on March 23, 2024, in El Dorado County. Two brothers were shed hunting when they were attacked by a mountain lion; one man died and the mountain lion was euthanized.^[3]

Mountain lion depredation of livestock and domestic animals is far more common, with 7,719 verified depredation events from 1972–2019. The total number of depredations has increased over time, with a large increase in the proportion of depredation events involving pets and poultry.^[4] Despite the increase in the proportion of depredation events involving pets and poultry, most depredations continue to be of small hoofstock (Table 1). According to CDFW’s annual report to the Commission on mountain lion depredation permits,^[5] CDFW received 518 reports of mountain lion depredation in 2025. Goats and sheep accounted for 73.8% of depredation permits issued, while goat and chicken were the most commonly identified materials in stomach contents evaluated during mountain lion necropsies.

Table 1. Domestic animal depredation events 1972–2019 (Dellinger, et al. 2021).

* Sheep and goats accounted for 97.3% of small hoofstock depredated.

In some areas of the state, conflict between mountain lions and humans is a major concern for local residents. The Legislature has also shown interest—this Committee’s January 27, 2026, informational hearing on human-wildlife conflict included testimony on mountain lion conflict, concerns, and potential solutions. Controversy can emerge in the tension between coexistence in mountain lion habitat and proactive protection of property. This tension was seen in recent weeks: on May 13, Lassen County Sheriff John McGarva declared that mountain lions in the Gold Run area were an imminent threat to public safety, and criticized CDFW’s approach as too reactive, relying on mountain lions to strike first.^[6] Sheriff McGarva’s declaration was disputed by CDFW, with a spokesperson commenting, “It’s just mountain lions in mountain lion habitat. There haven’t been any depredations, no pets taken, no livestock taken. Our folks have determined that no threat existed.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also found no evidence of immediate danger.^[7]

Management and conservation of mountain lions. The evolving and conflicting views of Californians about mountain lions are evident from the management history of the species. From 1907–1963, CDFW paid bounties on mountain lions, resulting in the take of 12,580 individuals. From 1964–1969, the bounty program ended, but mountain lions were classified as a nuisance or vermin species that could be taken without a license and without limit. From 1969–1972, mountain lions were classed as a game species that could be hunted by licensed hunters. A moratorium on hunting mountain lions was in effect from 1972–1986, during which time mountain lions were classified as non-game mammals; though mountain lions were once again classified as game mammals in 1986, no further mountain lions were harvested. Since the passage of Proposition 117 in 1990, mountain lions have been classified as a specially protected mammal species, with take, possession, transport, import, or sale allowed only in certain limited circumstances. In 2026, a population of mountain lions (the Southern California/Central Coast distinct population segment) was listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act because of concerns about loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation.

Conservation activities since 1964 have resulted in a resurgence of the species’ population.^[8] From an estimated 600 mountain lions in California in 1954, CDFW estimates that there are approximately 4,172 mountain lions in California today; nearly half of these mountain lions are believed to be in the North Coast and Western Sierra Nevada populations. However, humans continue to pose the greatest threat to mountain lions: management killing and vehicle strikes are the leading causes of death for mountain lions, exceeding all natural causes (poaching, rodenticide poisoning, and human-caused wildfires are also significant drivers of mortality).^[9] Among management killings, 75% were following livestock depredation, 23% were following bighorn sheep depredation, and 2% were for public safety. Underscoring the impact of human-mountain lion interactions, all-cause mountain lion mortality is highest in areas of intermediate human population density, and local attitudes towards mountain lions seem to matter as well: mortality risk from intentional killings (i.e., management killings and poaching) is lower in areas with higher proportions of voters supporting environmental ballot propositions.^[10]

Following designation as a specially protected mammal (and thus the permanent end of hunting), management of mountain lions has occurred primarily as a response to depredation or imminent public safety threats.^[11] Management take can be lethal (e.g., shooting or capturing and euthanizing) or nonlethal (e.g., hazing or capturing and relocating). The mountain lion-related provisions of Proposition 117 (FGC § 4800 et seq.) provide four pathways for the management take of a mountain lion:

• A mountain lion posing an imminent threat to public health and safety (or protected sheep) may be taken lethally or nonlethally by CDFW or a local public safety agency;
• A mountain lion that is not an imminent threat to public safety may be taken nonlethally if take is necessary to protect mountain lions or the public;
• A mountain lion that has attacked or killed livestock or domestic animals may be taken nonlethally or sometimes lethally under a depredation permit issued by CDFW; and
• A mountain lion that is in the act of pursuing, injuring, or killing livestock or domestic animals may be taken lethally or nonlethally without advance authorization by CDFW.

In all cases, CDFW is working to reduce the lethal take of mountain lions for management reasons; in recent years, CDFW research has shown that lethal removal of mountain lions increases mountain lion conflict the following year (potentially due to immigration of subadult males, which are at high risk for conflict).^[12] In 2013, CDFW specified that only a single mountain lion could be taken under a single depredation permit. In 2017, CDFW began to prioritize nonlethal measures for mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains; this approach was expanded across the entire state in 2020. Under CDFW’s nonlethal prioritization, or “three-strikes,” strategy, the first depredation permit issued for a mountain lion is nonlethal, and nonlethal take is the default for the second permit as well. According to CDFW’s 2026 report to the Commission, CDFW issued 220 depredation permits in response to 518 reports in 2025. Of these, 158 (71.8%) were for nonlethal take. The 62 permits authorizing lethal take resulted in 19 mountain lions killed.

Human-wildlife conflict program. CDFW is responsible for managing human-wildlife conflict at the state level, with a variety of tools, programs, and activities to prevent and mitigate human-wildlife conflict. These include the Wildlife Incident Reporting (WIR) System, which tracks sightings, depredations, nuisances, and potential human conflicts for dozens of species (including 10,344 reports for mountain lions). WIR reports requiring a response are investigated by CDFW wildlife biologists or wildlife officers (e.g., sick wildlife or depredation). To assist in investigations, CDFW operates a Wildlife Health Laboratory and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory for disease surveillance and public safety investigations, respectively. CDFW also, until recently, maintained a human-wildlife conflict program, which helped communities develop tools and provided statewide support for human-wildlife conflict management. The human-wildlife conflict program was funded in the 2022–23 Budget with $5 million in one-time Drought Resilience and Response funds. Most of the (limited term) positions created for the human-wildlife conflict program were eliminated in 2024. This bill would require CDFW to develop a human-mountain lion conflict program in one of its regions.^[13]

Note on Proposition 117. This bill requires a four-fifths vote of the Legislature for passage because it amends Proposition 117. Amendments to Proposition 117 require a four-fifths vote and must be consistent with and in furtherance of the purposes of the initiative.

1. Proposed committee amendments. The requirement that the director of CDFW appear before legislative policy committees annually may place pressure on future legislative agendas without efficiently providing timely information. Instead, the director could be required to appear before the Legislature when requested, providing flexibility for committees. The Committee may wish to consider the following amendments:

FGC § 4811.6 (a). The director shall appear at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water or the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife annually until the 2034 calendar year to provide a status update on the programs developed pursuant to Sections 4811 and 4811.2.

The director shall, when requested, appear before the appropriate policy or budget committees in the Assembly and Senate to provide a status update on the programs developed pursuant to Sections 4811 and 4811.2.

1. Arguments in support. The Black Brant Group, writing in support, states that “California’s mountain lions are a specially protected species under Proposition 117. However, increasing reports of human-wildlife conflicts—particularly in El Dorado County and other foothill regions of the Sierra Nevada—underscore the need for science-based, proactive, and nonlethal approaches to coexistence. . . . As California continues to face increasing pressures from development, wildfire, and climate change, forward-looking policies like those proposed in [this bill] are critical to ensuring both public safety and the long-term conservation of important species like the mountain lion.”
2. Related legislation. SB 1135 (Blakespear) of the current legislative session requires CDFW to establish the Wildlife Coexistence Program to manage and promote wildlife coexistence. SB 1135 is also set for hearing in this Committee on June 30, 2026.

AB 1673 (Hadwick) of the current legislative session, among other provisions, authorizes expenditures from county fish and wildlife propagation funds to be used for wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict. AB 1673 is pending in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

SB 818 (Alvarado-Gil) of 2025 originally would have established a pilot program authorizing private houndspersons to proactively haze mountain lions. SB 818 was amended to be substantially similar to this bill. SB 818 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 132 (Hill), Chapter 208, Statutes of 2013, requires nonlethal procedures to be used when removing or taking any mountain lion that has not been designated as an imminent threat to public safety.

AB 1784 (Monning), Chapter 115, Statutes of 2012, authorizes CDFW to issue scientific collecting permits for mountain lions to qualified individuals.

SB 769 (Fuller), Chapter 388, Statutes of 2011, authorizes the possession of mountain lion carcasses for educational display.

AB 2273 (Maze) of 2006 would have allowed any person injured by a mountain lion, or a spouse or dependent child of a person killed by a mountain lion, to apply to the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board for reasonable medical, physical, and psychological costs incurred by the injured person. AB 2273 was held in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.

AB 24 (Maze) of 2005 would have required CDFW to contract with the University of California to conduct a study on the mountain lion population of the state and establish a clearinghouse of information on mountain lion attacks. AB 24 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 560 (Oller), Chapter 435, Statutes of 1999, authorizes CDFW to take a mountain lion that is perceived to be an imminent threat to a protected sheep species.

Proposition 117 (1990), a voter initiative statute, among other provisions, designates mountain lions as a specially protected mammal and prohibits the take, injury, possession, transportation, importation, or sale of any mountain lion or mountain lion part except as specified.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, California Chapter
Black Brant Group, the
California Rifle and Pistol Association
California State Chapter - National Wild Turkey Federation
California Democratic Party Rural Caucus
Mzuri Safari Club
San Diego County Wildlife Federation
San Francisco Bay Area Chapter - Safari Club International
Tulare Basin Wetlands Association

Opposition

One individual

Analysis Prepared by: Sean Clair / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096

1. The mountain lion is classified as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and “Secure” by NatureServe. However, some subpopulations may be at greater risk: at its February 11-12, 2026, meeting, the Commission unanimously voted to list the Southern California/Central Coast distinct population segment of mountain lion as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. ↑

2. “Verified Mountain Lion-Human Attacks”, CDFW, https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Mountain-Lion/Attacks. ↑

3. Grace Toohey, “Victims of California Mountain Lion Attack Were Brothers, Avid Sportsmen,” Los Angeles Times, March 25, 2024. ↑

4. Justin A. Dellinger, et al., “Temporal Trends and Drivers of Mountain Lion Depredation in California, USA,” Human-Wildlife Interactions 15, no. 1 (2021), 162–177. ↑

5. CDFW Wildlife Health Laboratory, “Report to the Fish and Game Commission Regarding Findings of Necropsies on Mountain Lions Taken Under Depredation Permits in 2025,” CDFW (2026). ↑

6. Sharon Bernstein, “Are Mountain Lions a Threat in California? How to Weigh the Latest Warnings,” Sacramento Bee, May 24, 2026. ↑

7. Kurtis Alexander, “A California Sheriff Said Mountain Lions Were an ‘Imminent Threat.’ State Officials Said There Never was One,” San Francisco Chronicle, May 21, 2026. ↑

8. “Report to the Fish and Game Commission: A Status Review of the Petitioned Southern California/Central Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) of Mountain Lion (Puma concolor cougar) in California,” CDFW (2025). ↑

9. Ibid. ↑

10. John Benson et al., “The Ecology of Human-Caused Mortality for a Protected Large Carnivore,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120, no. 13 (2023). ↑

11. While Proposition 117 allows for the proactive take of conflict mountain lions that are not imminent public safety threats, it is not clear to this Committee how often that authority is utilized. ↑

12. Dellinger, et al. 2021. ↑

13. CDFW divides the state into seven regions: Northern, North Central, Bay Delta, Central, South Coast, Inland Deserts, and Marine. ↑

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SB 1397

Author: Alvarado-Gil (R)

Amended: 5/14/26

Vote: 32

SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/14/26

AYES: Becker, Seyarto, Allen, Cabaldon, Cortese, Grove, Stern

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/14/26

AYES: Cervantes, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Dahle, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

SUBJECT: Mountain Lions: human-mountain lion conflicts program: scientific research

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (department), contingent upon an appropriation, to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in one of the department’s regions to protect public health and safety, and requires the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans, as provided, among other provisions.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the department. States that the department’s mission “is to manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological value and for their use and enjoyment by the public,” and provides that its core programs include biodiversity conservation, enforcement, and hunting, fishing, and public use, among others. (Fish and Game Code (FGC) §712.1)
2. Establishes the mountain lion as a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state. (FGC §4800)
   1. Makes it illegal to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell a mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion, except as specifically provided for. (FGC §4800)
   2. Defines “take” to mean hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill. (FGC §86)
3. Authorizes the department to remove or take any mountain lion, or authorize an appropriate local agency with public safety responsibility to remove or take any mountain lion that is perceived to be an imminent threat to public health or safety. (FGC §4801)
4. Requires nonlethal procedures to be used when removing or taking any mountain lion that has not been designated as an imminent threat to public health or safety. (FGC §4801.5)
   1. Defines nonlethal procedures to mean procedures that include capturing, pursuing, anesthetizing, temporarily possessing, temporarily injuring, marking, attaching to or surgically implanting monitoring or recognition devices, providing veterinary care, transporting, hazing, rehabilitating, releasing, or taking no action. (FGC §4801.5)
   2. Authorizes the department to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to implement nonlethal procedures on a mountain lion, as provided. (FGC §4801.5)
5. Authorizes any person or employee or agent whose livestock or other property is being or has been injured, damaged, or destroyed by a mountain lion to report that to the department and request a permit to take the mountain lion. (FGC §4802)
   1. Requires the department to immediately take the action necessary to confirm that there has been depredation by a mountain lion as quickly as possible, but in no event later than 48 hours after receiving the report. Requires the department to promptly issue a permit to take the depredating mountain lion if satisfied of depredation by the mountain lion. (FGC §4803)
6. Requires that the department condition the depredation permit to expire within 10 days of issuance, for the pursuit to start within one mile of the depredation site, and limit the pursuit to within a 10 mile radius of the depredation site in order to ensure that only the depredating mountain lion will be taken. (FGC §4804)
7. Authorizes the immediate take of a mountain lion pursuing, injuring, or killing livestock or domestic animals by the owner thereof, as provided, and requires departmental notification within 72 hours. Requires the department to investigate, as specified. (FGC §4807)
8. Authorizes the department to authorize certain entities to conduct scientific research involving mountain lions. (FGC §4810)

This bill:

1. Requires the department, contingent upon a legislative appropriation, to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in order to protect public health and safety in one of the department’s regions.
   1. Requires the department to identify which one of its regions has been most impacted by human-wildlife conflict. Authorizes the department to consider certain factors in making that determination, as specified.
2. Requires the conflicts program to include public education and outreach regarding methods to minimize conflict including methods to protect livestock and domestic animals and the development of best practices to minimize conflicts.
3. Requires the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans, as provided.
4. Requires the department to consult with the Department of Parks and Recreation and local agencies to ensure that department and department-supported activities conform to law and regulation.
5. States legislative intent that the department work closely with the community and local leaders in the specified region on implementation of the conflicts program, research and other efforts, as provided. Requires the department to regularly attend public meetings of local government entities in the specified region to provide updates on this implementation, and updates on depredation permitting, as provided.
6. Requires the department director to appear at a hearing of Senate and Assembly relevant policy committees, as specified, annually to provide an update on implementation of the conflicts program, research and other efforts, as specified, until the 2034 calendar year.
7. Requires the department on or by October 1, 2031 to prepare and submit a legislative report to relevant committees describing the conflicts program, research and other efforts developed, including results, the number of department personnel involved, and recommendations to further improve the efforts to protect human health and safety, as provided.
8. Sets a five year sunset to January 1, 2033, and sunsets the legislative report requirement on January 1, 2036, as specified.
9. Makes a legislative finding and declaration that these provisions are consistent with and further the purposes of the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. Makes numerous additional relevant legislative findings and declarations, as provided.

[NOTE: Additional background information regarding this bill can be found in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee’s analysis.]

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

• Unknown but significant ongoing costs, likely in the low millions of dollars annually (General Fund), for CDFW to oversee all provisions of the bill in one of its regions, which would include, but not be limited to, public education and outreach; enforcement activities; data collection and analysis; health and disease surveillance; forensic interpretation of samples; and the evaluation of measurable performance objectives with an emphasis on human-mountain lion conflict, as well as technical assistance, consultation, and support to administer, implement, and enforce the program.

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/14/26)

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

California Rifle and Pistol Association

Inyo-Mono County Cattlewomen

Mzuri Safari Club

National Wild Turkey Federation – California State Chapter

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office

Safari Club International – San Francisco Bay Chapter

San Diego County Wildlife Federation

The Black Brant Group

The Honorable Autumn Andahl, Supervisor, District 2, County of Calaveras

The Honorable Caroline Schirato, Angels Camp Mayor, City of Angels

The Honorable David Griffith, Supervisor, District 5, County of Alpine

The Honorable Gary W. Redman, Sheriff-Coroner, Amador County Sheriff’s Office

The Honorable Jennifer Roeser, Supervisor, District 4, County of Inyo

The Honorable John McGarva, Coroner-Sheriff, Lassen County Sheriff’s Department

The Honorable Patrick Crew, Supervisor, Board Chair, County of Amador

The Honorable Scott E. Marcellin, Supervisor, District 3, County of Inyo

The Honorable Trina Orrill, Supervisor, District 1, County of Inyo

The Honorable Will Wadelton, Supervisor, District 5, County of Inyo

Tulare Basin Wetlands Association

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/14/26)

Animal Wellness Action

Center for a Humane Economy

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, “Human-mountain lion encounters have been increasing across the state in the past few years putting the public at serious risk of harm. A young man was killed in my district in 2024 and his sibling seriously injured by a mountain lion. This can’t keep happening, we need to do more to protect the public. SB 1397 seeks to build upon the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s human-mountain lion conflicts program by requiring them to enhance and expand their program to protect public health and safety.”

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: Writing in opposition, the Center for a Humane Economy states that “we support efforts to promote public safety and reduce human-wildlife conflict, SB 1397 is not supported by the best available scientific or empirical evidence and risks undermining California’s longstanding protections for mountain lions.”

They add that mountain lion attacks on humans are exceedingly rare, note that depredation data may not be reliable indicators or trends, research has shown that removal of apex predators can worsen, not reduce, conflict, the bill does not

address primary drivers of conflict, such as habitat fragmentation and the effectiveness of nonlethal deterrence methods remains uncertain.

Prepared by: Katharine Moore / N.R. & W. / (916) 651-4116

5/18/26 15:28:55

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

SB 1397 (Alvarado-Gil) - Mountain Lions: human-mountain lion conflicts program: scientific research

Bill Summary:

This bill would require the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program statewide to protect public health and safety, and require the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans, as provided, among other provisions.

*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM – SUSPENSE FILE ***********

The following information is revised to reflect amendments

adopted by the committee on May 14, 2026

Fiscal Impact:

• Unknown but significant ongoing costs, likely in the low millions of dollars annually (General Fund), for CDFW to oversee all provisions of the bill in one of its regions, which would include, but not be limited to, public education and outreach; enforcement activities; data collection and analysis; health and disease surveillance; forensic interpretation of samples; and the evaluation of measurable performance objectives with an emphasis on human-mountain lion conflict, as well as technical assistance, consultation, and support to administer, implement, and enforce the program.

Committee Amendments:

Committee amendments would make bill provisions contingent upon appropriation and reduce CDFW costs by limiting the human-mountain lion conflict program geographically to one CDFW region that has been most impacted by human-mountain lion conflict, as determined by the department. These amendments would require CDFW to identify which one of its regions has been most impacted by human-mountain lion conflict, and provide that, in making this determination, the department can consider the number of depredation reports, reported mountain lion incidents, or other relevant factors, as applicable, for each of its regions. The cost estimate for the bill as written when heard in this committee included CDFW staffing needs for six its regions in order to implement and administer the program statewide. Narrowing the scope to one CDFW region would reduce state costs substantially, and would require a fraction of the staff resources that would be necessitated by a statewide program.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

SB 1397 (Alvarado-Gil) - Mountain Lions: human-mountain lion conflicts program: scientific research

Bill Summary:

This bill would require the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program statewide to protect public health and safety, and require the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans, as provided, among other provisions.

Fiscal Impact:

• CDFW estimates ongoing costs of about $8.1 million in the first year and $6.7 million annually thereafter (General Fund) for 23 positions to oversee all provisions of the bill statewide that would include, but not be limited to, public education and outreach; enforcing laws and regulations; data collection and analysis; health and disease surveillance; forensic interpretation of samples; and the evaluation of measurable performance objectives with an emphasis on human-mountain lion conflict, as well as to provide technical assistance, consultation, and support to administer, implement, and enforce the programs.

Background:

Most of California is mountain lion habitat. Mountain lions inhabit diverse habitat types across the state including foothills, mountains, coastal chaparral, and forested lands. Mountain lions are carnivorous predators, although known to sometimes eat grasses and berries. Large carnivores are key stabilizing components of ecosystems.

CDFW receives hundreds of mountain lion sighting reports annually in locations throughout the state. In January of this year, a juvenile mountain lion was observed in and relocated from San Francisco. According to the department, increased sightings and reports of mountain lions are likely due to increased use of home security cameras, social media, and personal trail cameras. Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, but, unfortunately, occur. There have been four human fatalities attributed to mountain lion attacks in California from 1986 through August 2025 out of 29 total verified attacks according to data obtained from the department. Tragically, one of the fatal attacks was of a young man in El Dorado County in 2024. The department’s website also states that “Since 1890, there have been less than 50 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California; of that, six have been fatal.” These attacks occurred throughout the state from San Diego to Trinity County.

Proposition 117 – The Wildlife Protection Act of 1990.Mountain lions have not been hunted in California since 1972 when declining populations raised concerns. Subsequently, Proposition 117 – The Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 – designated mountain lions as a “specially protected” species in California, and made it illegal to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell a mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion with certain exceptions such as an imminent threat to public health and safety (see Fish and Game Code (FGC) §§4800 et seq.). Changes to the state’s mountain lion laws added by Proposition 117 are required to further the intent of The Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 and receive a 4/5s vote in the Legislature.

CDFW mountain lion depredation policies. Currently, the department has implemented a “3 strikes” policy in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana mountains and the locations with the recently-listed populations. A nonlethal depredation permit was issued for the first confirmed depredation event where livestock or domestic animals were killed by a mountain lion. Along with the nonlethal permit, education is provided to the owner of methods to better protect their livestock or domestic animals and reduce mountain lion attraction to the site. If a 3^rd strike occurred, the owner could obtain a lethal depredation permit. Mountain lions that threaten public safety can be immediately killed. The department is required to respond within 48 hours to a depredation report.

According to the department, during the stepwise process, recommended measures may include removing the carcass and carcass parts, installing or repairing exclusion fencing to keep the mountain lion out, implementing more robust animal husbandry practices, deploying temporary deterrent systems, deploying livestock protection dogs, hazing via bean bag shots or similar, and taking measures to monitor movement and behavior. Recent research found that there is no consensus on what the best tools and techniques are to minimize human/mountain lion conflict, and under what circumstances they work.

In 2025, the department received 518 reports of mountain lion depredation and issued 220 mountain lion depredation permits of which 72% were for non-lethal take. Nineteen or twenty mountain lions were killed under a lethal take depredation permit.

The Sierra Nevada Foothills Mountain Lion Study. CDFW is a direct collaborator in the Sierra Nevada Foothills Mountain Lion Study which has been in development since 2018. This study will investigate the efficacy of several non-lethal deterrents on mountain lions. This will include pursuit by hounds, visual barriers, radio or motion activated scare devices, and turbo fladry.

Proposed Law:

This bill would:

1. Require the department to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in order to protect public health and safety.
2. Require the conflicts program to include public education and outreach regarding methods to minimize conflict including methods to protect livestock and domestic animals and the development of best practices to minimize conflicts.
3. Require the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans, as provided.
4. Require the department to consult with the Department of Parks and Recreation and local agencies to ensure that department and department-supported activities conform to law and regulation.
5. State legislative intent that the department work closely with the community and local leaders in implementing (1) – (4). Require the department to regularly attend public meetings of local government entities in applicable counties to provide updates on the implementation of (1) – (4), and updates on depredation permitting, as provided.
6. Require the department director to appear at a hearing of this Committee and the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee annually to provide an update on (1) – (4) until the 2034 calendar year.
7. Require the department on or by October 1, 2031 to prepare and submit a legislative report to relevant committees describing the programs developed pursuant to (1) – (4) including results, the number of department personnel involved, and recommendations to further improve the programs to protect human health and safety, as provided.
8. Set a five year sunset to January 1, 2033 for (1) – (5), and sunset the legislative report requirement on January 1, 2036.
9. Make a legislative finding and declaration that these provisions are consistent with and further the purposes of the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990.
10. Make numerous additional relevant legislative findings and declarations including:
    1. The County of El Dorado is a “hot spot” for human-mountain lion conflicts.
    2. Multiple factors have been suggested as the cause of the increased human-mountain lion conflict, and it may be that there is no single dominant cause.
    3. The department expanded its efforts to work on wildlife response management, including by proactively addressing human-wildlife conflicts and improving wildlife incident response; to support safe human-wildlife interactions, and to increase understanding, awareness, and appreciation of wildlife. Due to funding challenges, the proactive program has not been maintained statewide.
    4. Due to Proposition 117, broad consensus is needed to amend the mountain lion statutes; and
    5. Existing department resources are inadequate to maintain service at a sufficient level. In order to protect public safety, it is critically important to ensure the department’s efforts to reduce human-mountain lion conflicts across the state are maintained, enhanced, and expanded upon.

Related Legislation:

SB 1305 (Richardson, 2026) would require the department to develop a roadmap for the possible reintroduction of grizzly bear into the state based upon specified considerations, among other provisions.

SB 1135 (Blakespear, 2026), the California Wildlife Coexistence Act, would establish a Wildlife Coexistence Program at the department to manage and promote wildlife coexistence, as provided, among other provisions.

ACR 145 (Patterson, Chapter 32, Resolution of 2024) declared 2024 as the year to Coexist with Wildlife, California.

SB 818 (Alvardo-Gil, 2025) would have required the department to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in El Dorado County and required the department to continue and expand its scientific research efforts to evaluate how to deter mountain lions, as provided, among other provisions. (This bill was held on the suspense file in this committee.)

Staff Comments:

CDFW has longstanding budget concerns which have persisted despite repeated efforts over multiple decades to address them. When the state has significant fiscal concerns – as it does now – ensuring consistent and sustained funding for the department is particularly challenging. Recently, at legislative direction, the department undertook a “service-based” budgeting effort to identify the personnel needed to perform the services required by its mandates. The department’s services were separated into eight general programs for analysis. In 2021, the initial results of this effort were released that revealed that the department’s funding was inadequate to meet its “mission” service level. The “Species & Habitat Conservation” program – where most of the tasks associated with wildlife reintroduction and conservation are likely to be located – only had about 1/3 of the mission service level resources. The Newsom Administration proposed, and the Legislature approved, significant one-time General Fund moneys to support the department’s activities in the near-term. Some progress in addressing the gaps in service were subsequently made, although this was offset, at least in part, by new duties.

Unfortunately, a recent update (for fiscal year 2024/2025) shows that the Species & Habitat Conservation program resources remain at about 35% overall, with a 5-year average of about 33%, although the trend is positive from fiscal year 2020/2021 (27%).

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER

Senator Josh Becker, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: SB Hearing Date: April 14, 2026

Subject: Mountain Lions: human-mountain lion conflicts program: scientific research

SUMMARY

This bill would require the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (department) to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program statewide to protect public health and safety, and require the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans, as provided, among other provisions.

BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW

Mountain lions (puma concolor).

Most of California is mountain lion habitat. Mountain lions inhabit diverse habitat types across the state including foothills, mountains, coastal chaparral, and forested lands. Mountain lions are carnivorous predators, although known to sometimes eat grasses and berries. Large carnivores are key stabilizing components of ecosystems. Adult mountain lions are generally solitary, although there is emerging evidence of mountain lion populations in an area having a more complex social structure than previously thought. Mountain lions are active yearlong, and mostly at twilight or at night. The home ranges of males are about 15 square miles and males usually occupy distinct areas. Seasonal movement may occur due to prey movement, such as mule deer migration. Young adults establish homes ranges as vacancies – such as by the death of an older mountain lion – occur. Statewide population estimates are thought to be stable in aggregate.^[1]

The department receives hundreds of mountain lion sighting reports annually in locations throughout the state. In January of this year, a juvenile mountain lion was observed in and relocated from San Francisco. According to the department, increased sightings and reports of mountain lions are likely due to increased use of home security cameras, social media, and personal trail cameras. Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, but, unfortunately, occur. There have been four human fatalities attributed to mountain lion attacks in California from 1986 through August 2025 out of 29 total verified attacks according to data obtained from the department. Tragically, one of the fatal attacks was of a young man in El Dorado County in 2024. The department’s website also states that “Since 1890, there have been less than 50 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California; of that, six have been fatal.” These attacks occurred throughout the state from San Diego to Trinity County.

Proposition 117 – The Wildlife Protection Act of 1990.

Mountain lions have not been hunted in California since 1972 when declining populations raised concerns. Subsequently, Proposition 117 – The Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 – designated mountain lions as a “specially protected” species in California, and made it illegal to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell a mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion with certain exceptions such as an imminent threat to public health and safety (see Fish and Game Code (FGC) §§4800 et seq.). Changes to the state’s mountain lion laws added by Proposition 117 are required to further the intent of The Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 and receive a 4/5s vote in the Legislature.

The department’s mountain lion depredation policies.

Currently, the department has implemented a “3 strikes” policy in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana mountains and the locations with the recently-listed populations. A nonlethal depredation permit was issued for the first confirmed depredation event where livestock or domestic animals were killed by a mountain lion. Along with the nonlethal permit, education is provided to the owner of methods to better protect their livestock or domestic animals and reduce mountain lion attraction to the site. If a 3^rd strike occurred, the owner could obtain a lethal depredation permit. Mountain lions that threaten public safety can be immediately killed. The department is required to respond within 48 hours to a depredation report.

According to the department, during the stepwise process, recommended measures may include removing the carcass and carcass parts, installing or repairing exclusion fencing to keep the mountain lion out, implementing more robust animal husbandry practices, deploying temporary deterrent systems, deploying livestock protection dogs, hazing via bean bag shots or similar, and taking measures to monitor movement and behavior. Recent research found that there is no consensus on what the best tools and techniques are to minimize human/mountain lion conflict, and under what circumstances they work.^[2]

In 2025, the department received 518 reports of mountain lion depredation and issued 220 mountain lion depredation permits of which 72% were for non-lethal take. Nineteen or twenty^[3] mountain lions were killed under a lethal take depredation permit.

The Sierra Nevada Foothills Mountain Lion Study.

The department is a direct collaborator in the Sierra Nevada Foothills Mountain Lion Study which has been in development since 2018. This study will investigate the efficacy of several non-lethal deterrents on mountain lions. This will include pursuit by hounds, visual barriers, radio or motion activated scare devices, and turbo fladry.^[4]

Existing law:

1. Establishes the department. States that the department’s mission “is to manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological value and for their use and enjoyment by the public,” and provides that its core programs include biodiversity conservation, enforcement, and hunting, fishing, and public use, among others. (FGC §712.1)
2. Establishes the mountain lion as a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state. (FGC §4800)
   1. Makes it illegal to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell a mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion, except as specifically provided for. (FGC §4800)
   2. Defines “take” to mean hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill. (FGC §86)
3. Authorizes the department to remove or take any mountain lion, or authorize an appropriate local agency with public safety responsibility to remove or take any mountain lion that is perceived to be an imminent threat to public health or safety. (FGC §4801)
4. Requires nonlethal procedures to be used when removing or taking any mountain lion that has not been designated as an imminent threat to public health or safety. (FGC §4801.5)
   1. Defines nonlethal procedures to mean procedures that include capturing, pursuing, anesthetizing, temporarily possessing, temporarily injuring, marking, attaching to or surgically implanting monitoring or recognition devices, providing veterinary care, transporting, hazing, rehabilitating, releasing, or taking no action. (FGC §4801.5)
   2. Authorizes the department to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to implement nonlethal procedures on a mountain lion, as provided. (FGC §4801.5)
5. Authorizes any person or employee or agent whose livestock or other property is being or has been injured, damaged, or destroyed by a mountain lion to report that to the department and request a permit to take the mountain lion. (FGC §4802)
   1. Requires the department to immediately take the action necessary to confirm that there has been depredation by a mountain lion as quickly as possible, but in no event later than 48 hours after receiving the report. Requires the department to promptly issue a permit to take the depredating mountain lion if satisfied of depredation by the mountain lion. (FGC §4803)
6. Requires that the department condition the depredation permit to expire within 10 days of issuance, for the pursuit to start within one mile of the depredation site, and limit the pursuit to within a 10 mile radius of the depredation site in order to ensure that only the depredating mountain lion will be taken. (FGC §4804)
7. Authorizes the immediate take of a mountain lion pursuing, injuring, or killing livestock or domestic animals by the owner thereof, as provided, and requires departmental notification within 72 hours. Requires the department to investigate, as specified. (FGC §4807)
8. Authorizes the department to authorize certain entities to conduct scientific research involving mountain lions. (FGC §4810)

PROPOSED LAW

This bill would:

1. Require the department to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in order to protect public health and safety.
2. Require the conflicts program to include public education and outreach regarding methods to minimize conflict including methods to protect livestock and domestic animals and the development of best practices to minimize conflicts.
3. Require the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans, as provided.
4. Require the department to consult with the Department of Parks and Recreation and local agencies to ensure that department and department-supported activities conform to law and regulation.
5. State legislative intent that the department work closely with the community and local leaders in implementing (1) – (4). Require the department to regularly attend public meetings of local government entities in applicable counties to provide updates on the implementation of (1) – (4), and updates on depredation permitting, as provided.
6. Require the department director to appear at a hearing of this Committee and the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee annually to provide an update on (1) – (4) until the 2034 calendar year.
7. Require the department on or by October 1, 2031 to prepare and submit a legislative report to relevant committees describing the programs developed pursuant to (1) – (4) including results, the number of department personnel involved, and recommendations to further improve the programs to protect human health and safety, as provided.
8. Set a five year sunset to January 1, 2033 for (1) – (5), and sunset the legislative report requirement on January 1, 2036.
9. Make a legislative finding and declaration that these provisions are consistent with and further the purposes of the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990.
10. Make numerous additional relevant legislative findings and declarations including:
    1. The County of El Dorado is a “hot spot” for human-mountain lion conflicts.
    2. Multiple factors have been suggested as the cause of the increased human-mountain lion conflict, and it may be that there is no single dominant cause.
    3. The department expanded its efforts to work on wildlife response management, including by proactively addressing human-wildlife conflicts and improving wildlife incident response; to support safe human-wildlife interactions, and to increase understanding, awareness, and appreciation of wildlife. Due to funding challenges, the proactive program has not been maintained statewide.
    4. Due to Proposition 117, broad consensus is needed to amend the mountain lion statutes; and
    5. Existing department resources are inadequate to maintain service at a sufficient level. In order to protect public safety, it is critically important to ensure the department’s efforts to reduce human-mountain lion conflicts across the state are maintained, enhanced, and expanded upon.

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT

According to the author, “Human-mountain lion encounters have been increasing across the state in the past few years putting the public at serious risk of harm. A young man was killed in my district in 2024 and his sibling seriously injured by a mountain lion. This can’t keep happening, we need to do more to protect the public. SB 1397 seeks to build upon the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s human-mountain lion conflicts program by requiring them to enhance and expand their program to protect public health and safety.”

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION

None received

COMMENTS

Comparison to SB 818 (Alvarado-Gil, 2025). This bill is very similar to the author’s SB 818 after it was amended by and voted out of this Committee last year. The proposed human-mountain lion conflict and scientific research programs apply statewide, not just in El Dorado County, the five year sunset date is updated, the proposed grant program is removed, and the legislative findings and declarations are reasonably revised and updated, among other provisions.

Recent Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee informational hearing. On January 27, 2026, the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee convened an informational hearing on Human-Wildlife Conflict. The hearing addressed recent increases in and high profile examples of human-wildlife conflict.

California is a biodiversity hotspot, and millions of acres in the state are ideal habitat for wildlife, although it may be shared with humans and livestock. Increasing habitat fragmentation, the impacts of climate change (including drought, extreme heat, and wildfire), increasing human population in wildlife habitat, and, in some instances, increasing wildlife populations and decreasing wild prey populations, are all factors in observations of increased conflict, particularly with predators. The department has developed online reporting tools to assist those impacted. Data from the department’s Wildlife Incident Report (WIR) online tool show the top five species reported from 2017 – 2025 in decreasing order are bears, mountain lions, wild pigs, coyotes, and bobcats. Of these WIR reports, about 53% are depredation reports and 17% represent potential human conflict. For 2020 – 2025, there were 4,300 – 6,500 human-wildlife conflict reports received in WIR which is believed to be only a fraction of the true number of incidents that occurred. Reported human-wildlife conflicts are increasing over time, and the department, unfortunately, was unable to respond to each reported incident. Of note, Los Angeles (urban) and El Dorado (rural) are the two counties with the most reported incidents. Human-wildlife conflict is not limited to rural counties.

Multiple panelists noted that relatively simple steps – such as garbage management in Lake Tahoe to reduce bear interaction with humans – can substantially reduce conflicts. They also noted how important research was – for example, in developing and evaluating non-lethal hazing techniques, in learning the best methods to perform public outreach and education and to build trust and awareness in the community. Proactive steps, such as improved husbandry or the use of guardian dogs, to prevent habituation by a predator when it is investigating livestock is essential. Successful conflict prevention needs resources, including dedicated personnel in the community, time, adaptive management to meet local needs, and a variety of both technical and social tools to facilitate it. The department’s inconsistent and fluctuating funding has undermined the progress it had made in being responsive to community incident reports, participating in community outreach, and developing trust in the community.

In contrast to the successful efforts in the Lake Tahoe area to reduce human-bear conflict, the reintroduction of gray wolves into the state has resulted in a less positive outcome thus far. There were increasing livestock losses as the packs disbursed across the state. Due in part to the absence of wild prey, the Beyem Seyo pack became habituated to livestock depredation. The department’s reactive and ultimately unsuccessful response to break the wolves’ habit was estimated to cost in excess of $2M. Four wolves in the pack were eventually killed. A more proactive approach could have saved money, livestock, and wolves, and resulted in human-wildlife coexistence, rather than conflict.

This bill is one of at least three bills seeking to proactively address human-wildlife conflict this legislative year.

Underfunded and overmandated. The department has longstanding budget concerns which have persisted despite repeated efforts over multiple decades to address them. When the state has significant fiscal concerns – as it does now – ensuring consistent and sustained funding for the department is particularly challenging. Recently, at legislative direction, the department undertook a “service-based” budgeting effort to identify the personnel needed to perform the services required by its mandates. The department’s services were separated into eight general programs for analysis. In 2021, the initial results of this effort were released that revealed that the department’s funding was inadequate to meet its “mission” service level. The “Species & Habitat Conservation” program – where most of the tasks associated with wildlife reintroduction and conservation are likely to be located – only had about 1/3 of the mission service level resources. The Newsom Administration proposed, and the Legislature approved, significant one-time General Fund moneys to support the department’s activities in the near-term. Some progress in addressing the gaps in service were subsequently made, although this was offset, at least in part, by new duties.

Unfortunately, a recent update (for fiscal year 2024/2025) shows that the Species & Habitat Conservation program resources remain at about 35% overall, with a 5-year average of about 33%, although the trend is positive from fiscal year 2020/2021 (27%).

Recent related legislation

SB 1305 (Richardson, 2026) would require the department to develop a roadmap for the possible reintroduction of grizzly bear into the state based upon specified considerations, among other provisions. (This bill is pending before the Senate Appropriations Committee.)

SB 1135 (Blakespear, 2026), the California Wildlife Coexistence Act, would establish a Wildlife Coexistence Program at the department to manage and promote wildlife coexistence, as provided, among other provisions. (This bill is pending before this Committee.)

ACR 145 (Patterson, Chapter 32, Resolution of 2024) declared 2024 as the year to Coexist with Wildlife, California.

SB 818 (Alvardo-Gil, 2025) would have required the department to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in El Dorado County and required the department to continue and expand its scientific research efforts to evaluate how to deter mountain lions, as provided, among other provisions. (This bill was held on the suspense file in the Senate Appropriations Committee.)

SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS: none

SUPPORT

California Rifle and Pistol Association

Inyo-Mono County Cattlewomen

Mzuri Safari Club

National Wild Turkey Federation – California State Chapter

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office

San Diego County Wildlife Federation

The Black Brant Group

The Honorable Autumn Andahl, Supervisor, District 2, County of Calaveras

The Honorable Caroline Schirato, Angels Camp Mayor, City of Angels

The Honorable David Griffith, Supervisor, District 5, County of Alpine

The Honorable Gary W. Redman, Sheriff-Coroner, Amador County Sheriff’s Office

The Honorable Jennifer Roeser, Supervisor, District 4, County of Inyo

The Honorable John McGarva, Coroner-Sheriff, Lassen County Sheriff’s Department

The Honorable Patrick Crew, Supervisor, Board Chair, County of Amador

The Honorable Scott E. Marcellin, Supervisor, District 3, County of Inyo

The Honorable Trina Orrill, Supervisor, District 1, County of Inyo

The Honorable Will Wadelton, Supervisor, District 5, County of Inyo

Several individuals

OPPOSITION

None received

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1. In southern California and the Central Coast as a result of human population growth and barriers that restrict connectivity with other mountain lion populations, mountain lion populations are in decline. Mountain lions in these areas recently were designated as “threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act. ↑

2. Vickers, TW and F Najera (2023). Summary Report of Mountain Lion Hazing/Deterrent Devices Testing aimed at reducing livestock predation and associated Mountain Lion Depredation Permits. UC Davis Wildlife Health Center under contract to SANDAG ↑

3. The department’s annual report to the California Fish and Game Commission on the necroscopies of mountain lions taken under depredation permits reports both 19 and 20 killed. ↑

4. Fladry are a line of brightly colored flags evenly spaced and hung around an area where livestock gather and have had some success deterring other predators, such as wolves. ↑