Type: report

Article abstract: This document seeks to provide the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) a summary of the activities on Task 2 (Agreement #A37682/MOU #5005298/ AMENDMENT NO. 2 (S890571)) related to the educational efforts, and testing and use of deterrent devices and strategies, undertaken by the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center mountain lion project team with the goal of reducing domestic animal and mountain lion mortalities in the County. Being killed after depredating domestic animals, usually small livestock or pets, is the number one source of mortality for mountain lions in San Diego County and California as a whole (Benson et al. 2023, Vickers et al. 2015). Low overall survival rates are a concern in the San Diego County mountain lion population, and reducing livestock predation and associated mountain lion mortalities is a high priority. Our UC Davis mountain lion study team has worked to reduce losses of domestic animals and mountain lions for many years. This report details the work conducted under this contract, as well as other funding, to advance animal owner education regarding proper husbandry of their domestic animals, and to explore strategies and tools that can assist owners in that effort. This is one of the goals of our study team not only in San Diego County but throughout California.