Puma Profiles: P-98

Male
Initial capture date: Aug. 26, 2021

P-98 was a young male mountain lion discovered in the Santa Monica Mountains in the winter of 2020 from trail cameras. At the time, he was about 3 months old, and he was with his mother, P-54, and his brother, P-97.

Interestingly, this was P-54's second litter of 2020. She had given birth to three kittens (P-82, P-83, and P-84) in May 2020 and was known to have kicked off the "summer of kittens," which included five mountain lion mothers giving birth between May and September of 2020. Researchers believe that P-54's litter from May did not survive and that she gave birth again in late October 2020.

On Aug. 26, 2021, at approximately 10:45 a.m., P-98 attacked a young child in an unincorporated area of Calabasas. Officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife began an investigation into the attack. A wildlife officer went to the home where the attack occurred and discovered an aggressive mountain lion crouched in the corner of the property. Due to its behavior and proximity to the attack, the warden believed it was likely the attacking lion. To protect public safety, he shot and killed the animal on site. The mountain lion was 10 months old at the time.

His brother, P-97, later appeared with their mother, P-54. P-97 was tranquilized with a non-lethal dart rifle and DNA taken from the young cat showed that he was not connected to the attack. P-54 was not captured, and she eventually moved from the area.

On the following day, P-97, in coordination with CDFW, was radio-collared by NPS biologists and released around where his mother, P-54 was known to be traveling. Mother and son later reunited.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife news release about the attack can be found here: CDFW News | Mountain Lion Dispatched After Attack Near Calabasas

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