The lion, known as P-54, was also found to have multiple toxic compounds from rat poisons in her body, as did her four unborn kittens.
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"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.
"In this case, it is also unfortunate because the death of P-54 from a vehicle resulted in the loss of four other young mountain lions, two males and two females, that were about to enter the population."
P-54 had been tracked by wildlife biologists almost since she was born. She was discovered in the Santa Monica Mountains at four weeks old in early 2017.
4-week-old mountain lion cub newest addition in Santa Monica Mountains
As an adult she had previously given birth, to several kittens in 2020.
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P-54 died on June 17 of this year when she was struck by a car on Las Virgenes Road. Her mother had been struck and killed by a vehicle in the same area four years earlier.
Mountain lion P-54 hit and killed by vehicle in Santa Monica Mountains
Mountain lion known as P-54 hit and killed by vehicle in Santa Monica Mountains
Biologists are disturbed, but not surprised, by the discovery of five different toxic substances - described as anticoagulant rodenticide compounds - in the body of P-54 and her kittens, predominantly in her liver and abdominal fat tissue.
They say it confirms what they have learned about the mountain lion population in the region - that their biggest threats are toxic compounds and vehicles.