Wanted Cougar, P-22, Captured In LA Backyard

LOS FELIZ, CA — After nearly a decade of living in the Hollywood Hills, a world famous mountain lion was captured by wildlife just weeks after killing a leashed dog and exhibiting other sudden concerning behaviors.

P-22 was captured Monday morning in a Los Feliz backyard, the homeowner told the Los Angeles Times. The big cat also gave residents a thrill earlier this year when he sauntered down Silver Lake Boulevard to Berkeley Circle.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service announced plans to capture the celebrity collared cougar after authorities said he "may be exhibiting signs of distress." The announcement followed an incident in late November in which he killed a small dog named "Piper" as it was being taken for a walk in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood.

He was also accused of attacking another a week ago in the Silver Lake area.

Officials said Monday afternoon that P-22 had been safely and humanely captured to be brought in for assessment.

"P-22 has coexisted for ten years in the smallest home range every [sic] recorded for a mountain lion — and the urban," said Beth Pratt, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, wrote in a statement Monday. "We don't know the cause for his sudden change in behavior, but we appreciate the support of the community during this challenging time.

"Our hearts go out to the pets and people that in P-22's distress have been impacted," Pratt said.

Wildlife authorities plan to evaluate his health and "determine the best next steps for the animal while also prioritizing the safety of surrounding communities."

The cougar was in stable condition and being evaluated by biologists and veterinarians, Pratt confirmed.

READ MORE: P-22 To Be Captured Following Series Of Dangerous Encounters

"P-22 means so much to so many," Pratt said."There is a team dedicated to his safe keeping and making sure he has the best care and options for this next phase of his journey."

Officials have not announced what that next phase will look like.

A resident posted photos of the tranquilized animal on social media Monday, writing, "P22 was captured in our backyard. Some animal control guys told us there's a lion in your yard. They tranquilized him and took to LA Zoo for observation. Quite a day!"

Resident, Sarah Picchi, told the Los Angeles Times the lion was caught near Franklin Avenue and St. George Street. She told the paper wildlife officials came to her home and said, "You have a lion in your backyard," explaining that it was P-22.

According to CDFW and NPS, authorities were able to determine the lion's location thanks to its tracking collar.

"CDFW veterinarians and NPS biologists will determine the best next steps for the animal while also prioritizing the safety of the surrounding communities," the agencies stated.

The beloved cat has been living in the Hollywood Hills almost a decade. He became the only lion ever recorded to successfully survive crossings of the San Diego (405) and Hollywood (101) freeways to reach his current roaming grounds in the Griffith Park area. P-22 was famously captured on camera prowling the city one night with the Hollywood sign illuminated behind him.

He is believed to be about 11 years old, making him the oldest cat in the National Park Service study of Southland lions. He was initially captured and outfitted with a tracking collar in 2012. At the time of his last capture, he weighed 123 pounds.

"This is an unprecedented situation in which a mountain lion has continued to survive in such an urban setting," according to a DFW statement. "As P-22 has aged, however, the challenges associated with living on an island of habitat seem to be increasing and scientists are noting a recent change in his behavior. This underscores the consequences of a lack of habitat connectivity for mountain lions and all wildlife."

The decision to capture P-22 was met with praise from wildlife advocates.

"We must recognize when the limits of this unconnected space have been reached, and take action to ensure the well-being of P-22 and the community," Pratt wrote previously in a release.

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City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.