Mountain Lion Died Of Parasitic Skin Disease, NPS Reveals

AGOURA HILLS, CA — Female mountain lion P-65, which was found dead in the Santa Monica Mountains in March, was the National Park Service puma study's first mountain lion to die of a parasitic skin disease, authorities announced Monday.

P-65 was found dead near a stream in the central Santa Monica Mountains around five years old, according to NPS. She died of notoedric mange, a contagious skin disease caused by a parasite.

Though other mountain lions have been successfully treated for the disease, P-65 was the first mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains puma study to die. Researchers did not know about P-65's severe case until she died.

"Her case of mange was severe, evidenced by hair loss and skin encrustation, especially on her face and head. She was also extremely emaciated," NPS said in a news release.

Further testing found P-65 was exposed to rat poisons, and research has shown a link between severe cases of mange and rat poison exposure, NPS said. Researchers raised concern about puma exposure to rat poisoning earlier this month after four puma fetuses showed toxin exposure even before they were born.

Two of P-65's kittens were found to have the same disease last year but recovered after treatment, according to NPS.

"A primary goal of our work is to learn whatever we can about these animals and how their lives are affected by the urban landscape they inhabit. Unfortunately, we've learned that mountain lions are susceptible to rat poisons even before they are born," said Jeff Sikich, a biologist on the mountain lion project at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

The skin disease that killed P-65 has also infected bobcats, mountain lions and other wildlife in the area.

P-65 was first captured in March 2018 and survived the Woolsey Fire shortly after. She gave birth to three kittens who were also tagged by the project, P-88, P-89 and P-90. Like so many others, two of P-65's cubs died on local roadways in 2022.

She was the second tagged female mountain lion to cross the Ventura (101) Freeway in 2019, following the path that would ultimately become the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. She successfully crossed over the freeway again a few weeks later to return.