LOS ANGELES – The biggest threat to mountain lions in California is traffic. More than 100 of the big cats died this year across the state in collisions with fast-moving cars.

The Santa Monica Mountains are the major problem area, with at least two mountain lions killed there in recent weeks - including one known as "P-39," who leaves three cubs behind. But Andrew Hughan, public information officer for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Regions 5 and 6, says that isn't uncommon; vehicle collisions are an unfortunate side effect of their habitat erosion.

"Mountain lions are probably killed a couple times a week," said Hughan. "They're killed all the time across the state."

And yet, state officials say the mountain lion population remains stable, mostly because the species lacks other, natural predators.

Wildlife advocates have worked hard to raise awareness of the challenges for big cats, to the point that any death sparks a public conversation.

Hughan says P-39's orphaned cubs are now fending for themselves. Mountain lions usually stick close to their mothers for the first two years of life.

Statewide estimates of the mountain lion population range from 4,000 to 6,000. Hughan points out that California is the only state that protects them by legislation. So, the big cats may not be safe from traffic on busy roadways - but they are safe from hunters.

"There are a few other states that outlaw it, just because they don't want them hunted," he explained. "But California's the only one that's protected. There's no hunting, so the population's allowed to thrive. The only thing, really, that keeps the population in check is getting hit by cars."

He encourages drivers to report any car accidents involving a mountain lion, because many are tagged and studied. These accidents are not considered a crime.

His department also handled the high-profile case this month of "P-45," a mountain lion that killed about a dozen alpacas and a couple of goats. The owner requested a permit to kill the lion, and according to Hughan, that caused a public uproar.

"The alpaca owner decided to rescind the permit and not do anything about it, so P-45 continues to roam around the Santa Monica Mountains," he said. "But you know, we're not looking for it or hunting it, or anything like that."

He added the department supports the plan for a wildlife corridor over the busy U.S. Route 101 freeway to help ease tensions for the Santa Monica lion population, but says the politics of funding it are complicated.



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An environmental group is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Arkansas mudalia snail under the Endangered Species Act.

In Arkansas and Missouri, including along the North Fork River, mudalia are critically endangered freshwater snails.

Trisha Sharma, legal fellow at the Center for Biological Diversity, emphasized the need to save the snail from vanishing entirely. She said freshwater mollusks are the most endangered group of animals in North America, and snails are the most endangered mollusks.

"We've already lost more than 70 species of freshwater snails," Sharma pointed out. "The Endangered Species Act has a very high success rate. So if we can get it listed and protected under the ESA, it's highly likely that the species will survive and be able to continue playing its important role in the ecosystems where it's found."

Sharma noted areas where the Arkansas mudalia can be found have decreased by 90% and the main threat to the species is habitat degradation, primarily from dam construction and operation along the rivers.

Sharma emphasized mudalia is also threatened by habitat loss from grazing, logging and mining. She added climate change is also expected to threaten the species.

"Part of what can make a species more resilient to climate impacts is its ability to disperse as its habitat becomes unsuitable, and to essentially relocate to areas where it can survive," Sharma explained. "But snails have a pretty narrow set of habitat requirements and very limited dispersal capabilities."

Sharma said freshwater snails play a crucial role in managing nutrients by consuming detritus and plant matter, preventing their decay and subsequent disruption of water quality, and snails are vital for food webs, converting unusable food sources into usable ones for birds and turtles.


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Today is Earth Day, and one initiative in southern Arizona is helping build public gardens providing beneficial habitat for pollinators, from Monarch butterflies to bees and bats.

Emily Bishton, founder and coordinator of the Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project, said the human population depends on these animals and insects, as many of our foods and plant-based products require pollination. But human activity and climate change have put pollinators in jeopardy and Bishton wants to increase awareness of how crucial they are.

"The best chance you have for attracting and nurturing pollinators is with the species that they've co-evolved with," Bishton explained. "They will instinctively know that is food for them, or a place they can lay their eggs. They also are more likely to be able to put up with the way our climate is now and the way it is changing."

Bishton pointed out one focus of the project is to get Arizonans to plant more native species like milkweed, which is especially critical for Monarch butterflies. She would also like people to reconsider the use of pesticides since they do kill pests but also other beneficial insects. She suggested contacting a local county extension service or master-gardener program for alternative methods.

Madian Romero, technical assistant supervisor for the Caviglia-Arivaca Library, has been responsible for getting teenagers in the area to participate in the Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project. They not only help build garden spaces around town but grow their knowledge behind the importance of pollinators, as well as community building.

"The teens, they've come up with ideas on how to fundraise for the projects," Romero emphasized. "Each business that agrees to have a garden, it can be free."

Romero added the project has also been a character-building exercise for the young people of Arivaca, and hopes it is an experience they will cherish.

The state Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University are looking for volunteers to help create a new Bumble Bee Atlas.

Bees are an important part of the ecosystem, and scientists are figuring out their habitats to help them thrive.

Iowa is home to at least 14 species of bumble bees that help pollinate native wildflowers and flowering crops in farm fields and backyard gardens.

Iowa State University University Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and plant pathologist Matt O'Neal said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently listed several bee species as endangered.

"And that includes the Rusty Patch bumble bee," said O'Neal, "20% of what it used to be, and that includes parts of Iowa. There is also evidence that other bumble species are in decline and so, this survey will give us a chance to see where those bees are and how abundant they are."

With that information, O'Neal said scientists can work to protect the bees' habitats and create Iowa's Bumble Bee Atlas.

It's part of a larger project to map the bees and foster bee development nationwide. Sign up online to volunteer.

The national project is part of a collaboration with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Some 900 people have volunteered for the national atlas project, and counted more than 20,000 bumble bees - which O'Neal said face several major threats.

"Pesticide exposure, parasite and pathogens," said O'Neal, "and then the last 'P,' and probably the most important, is poor forage."

The researchers will work to alleviate those threats by knowing where the bees are.

Volunteers have discovered species thought to be gone from their states, contributed to new field guides, and improved scientists' understanding of bumble bee populations across the country.




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