Vertebrate Species completed

Mountain Lion Connectivity and Genetics Study- North San Diego County

The purpose of this study is to provide the data needed regarding which lands in north San Diego County are likely utilized by mountain lions, and to assess connectivity within and between current and proposed future conserved lands in MSP Management Units (MU) 5, 6 and 8 and conserved and unconserved mountain lion habitat in adjacent Riverside, and Orange Counties. The results from this study of mountain lion movement, habitat use, gene flow, and highway crossings will be available to inform critical decisions regarding the prioritization of lands for conservation and the potential need and location of highway modifications to enhance connectivity for mountain lions and other wildlife. For this study, the UCD-WHC team will be conducting genetic analyses, resource selection and movement modeling, analysis of potential crossing points of highways.
Project Groups

  • SDMMP13 Mountain Lion Research, Monitoring, and Management

Project Focus

Mountain lion

Winston Vickers

University of California, Davis

Winston Vickers

Emily Perkins

Winston Vickers

Project Protocol
Mountain Lion Connectivity 2017

Methods include: trapping and GPS collaring mountain lions, DNA analysis, movement modeling, and defining mountain lion movement

GPS collar placement, trail cameras, genetic sampling, modeling
4.86MB UC Davis report to CDFW-SANDAG re NCMSCP final.pdf
Strategic Elements
  • FY15-16 - 3.1
Project Location
Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego

Mountain lion Puma concolor

Goal: Enhance and expand areas occupied by mountain lion in San Diego County in large interconnected blocks (>1,000 acres) of suitable natural vegetation surrounded by a limited number of high use roads, and increase connectivity (and reduce potential road mortality) between occupied and suitable habitat areas to allow expansion and movement of mountain lion occurrences within San Diego County and adjacent counties to increase effective population size to sustainable levels and work to reduce depredation on livestock to ensure persistence in the MSPA over the long-term (>100 years).

regional NFO 2017 SL
MON-RES-SPEC PUMCON-1

Management units: 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10

In 2017, finalize efforts begun in 2016, using available regional mountain lion movement data, to develop quantitative models of mountain lion movement in the MSPA to validate likely movement patterns and to assist with linkage and land protection prioritization.

Action Statement Action status Projects
RES-1 Project metadata, data, and report submitted to MSP web portal completed Mountain Lion Connectivity and Genetics Study- North San Diego County, Mountain Lion Critical Linkage Evaluation in MSPA
Criteria Deadline year
Mountain lion connectivity model completed by 2017 2021
Threat Name Threat Code
Human uses of the PreservesHUMUSE
Loss of connectivityLOSCON
Urban developmentURBDEV

Mountain lion Puma concolor

Goal: Enhance and expand areas occupied by mountain lion in San Diego County in large interconnected blocks (>1,000 acres) of suitable natural vegetation surrounded by a limited number of high use roads, and increase connectivity (and reduce potential road mortality) between occupied and suitable habitat areas to allow expansion and movement of mountain lion occurrences within San Diego County and adjacent counties to increase effective population size to sustainable levels and work to reduce depredation on livestock to ensure persistence in the MSPA over the long-term (>100 years).

regional NFO 2017, 2018 SL
MON-EVAL-LINK PUMCON-2

Management units: 5, 8, 9, 10

In 2017-2018, guided by information from telemetry studies and mountain lion movement modelling, prioritize potential mountain lion crossing locations for SR 78, SR 76, SR 79, I-15, and other priority roads. For each priority crossing location, conduct detailed linkage assessments to identify existing impediments to successful crossings and recommendations for wildlife crossing infrastructure improvement (culvert maintenance, undercrossing construction, fencing, etc.) and habitat/land protection needs.

Action Statement Action status Projects
EVAL-1 Use telemetry and modelling data to inform important wildlife crossing locations along SR 78, SR 76 and SR 79 where follow up surveys will be conducted to identify specific locations and recommendations for wildlife crossing infrastructure improvements. in progress Mountain Lion Connectivity and Genetics Study- North San Diego County
EVAL-2 At each location, detailed field assessments will be performed to identify existing impediments to successful crossings, specific recommendations for wildlife crossing infrastructure improvements, and land protection needs in the area defined in order to provide for long term successful connectivity between protected lands for mountain lions and other wildlife. in progress Mountain Lion Road Crossing and Deterrent Methods Evaluations
EVAL-3 Project metadata, data, and reports submitted to MSP web portal. in progress Mountain Lion Connectivity and Genetics Study- North San Diego County
Criteria Deadline year
By 2019, linkage evaluations completed for mountain lion crossing locations for SR 76, SR 79, SR 78 and other priority roads 2021
Threat Name Threat Code
Human uses of the PreservesHUMUSE
Loss of connectivityLOSCON
Urban developmentURBDEV
Code Obj. code Statement
PUMCON-1 MON-RES-SPEC In 2017, finalize efforts begun in 2016, using available regional mountain lion movement data, to develop quantitative models of mountain lion movement in the MSPA to validate likely movement patterns and to assist with linkage and land protection prioritization.
File name Lead Author Year Type
A single migrant enhances the genetic diversity of an inbred population Boyce, Walter; Ernest, Holly; Gustafson, Kyle; Vickers, Winston 2017 journal article
Appendix A - Assessment of Wildlife Crossing Sites for the Interstate 15 and Highway 101 Freeways in Southern California Riley, Seth; Smith, Trish; Vickers, Winston 2018 report
Appendix B - Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) Connectivity in the North San Diego County Multi-Species Conservation Plan Area, and Assessment of Mountain Lion Habitat Use and Connectivity in Northern San Diego and Southern Riverside and Orange Counties Boyce, Walter; Ernest, Holly; Gustafson, Kyle; Vickers, Winston; Zeller, Kathy 2017 report
Appendix C - Final UCD report other
Appendix D - Site exam data and pictures University of California, Davis field notes/data sheets
Appendix E. Individual highway Movement and Activity Score maps field notes/data sheets
Appendix F - Camera database UCD I-15 and adjacent field notes/data sheets
Appendix G - Wildlife Crossings Design for I-15 California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, Department of Engineering 2018 report
Appendix H 2020 other
Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) Connectivity in the North San Diego County Multi-species Conservation Plan Area Vickers, Winston; Zeller, Katherine; Ernest, Holly; Gustafson, Kyle; Boyce, Walter 2017 report
Multi-level, multi-scale resource selection functions and resistance surfaces for conservation planning, Pumas as a case study.pdf Zeller, Katherine; Vickers, Winston; Ernest, Holly; Boyce, Walter 2017 journal article
Santa Ana Mountains to eastern Peninsular Range Conservation Connectivity Infrastructure Planning Project for Interstate 15 and Closely Associated Roadways Vickers, Winston; Drayer, Karen; Smith, Trish; Cohen, Brian 2020 report