3 young cougars found dead in Santa Monica Mountains park
Saturday, October 10, 2015
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Officials say three young mountain lions have been found dead in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The National Park Service says a young female dubbed P-34 was found on a hiking trail on Sept. 30.
Park service ecologist Seth Riley says it appears the cougar ate rat poison.
Meanwhile, officials say the remains of two 3-month-old cougar kittens were found the same month in a remote area of the mountains north of Los Angeles.
They appear to have been attacked by an adult mountain lion.
Riley says that's not uncommon when the free-ranging animals are forced into fairly tight quarters.
The rugged recreational area is hemmed in by several busy freeways and numerous homes.
About a dozen other cougars are thought to live in the area.
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