Tag: National Park Service

3 Mountain Lion Kittens Discovered in Simi Hills

CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Three more mountain lions are living in our midst Thursday, with National Park Service (NPS) officials confirming the recent births of three kittens spotted in the Simi Hills between the Santa Monica and Santa Susana mountains. The female kittens, born to a mountain lion dubbed P-77, were discovered May 18 by biologists taking part…


Over 400 National Parks Waive Entrance Fee for Upcoming Holiday

In honor of the kickoff of National Park Week, entrance at more than 400 parks across the nation will be free April 22. The week ends April 30 and will include events and activities, according to the National Park Service. As one of the most biodiverse states in the country, the state is among the…


Famous Mountain Lion, P-22, Buried at Secret Location in Santa Monica Mountains

LOS ANGELES—More than two months after his death, the Southland’s most famous mountain lion, P-22, has been buried at an undisclosed location in the Santa Monica Mountains, a wildlife official said March 6. According to Beth Pratt, California regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, the lion was “laid to rest” in a private…


Mountain Lion Fatally Struck by Vehicle Near Malibu

LOS ANGELES—A mountain lion was fatally struck by a vehicle along Pacific Coast Highway west of Malibu, state officials said Feb. 15. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the lion was struck around 7 p.m. Tuesday on Pacific Coast Highway near Leo Carrillo State Beach. “[The department] was immediately in touch with…


Mountain Lion P-22, the ‘Hollywood Cat,’ Is Euthanized

LOS ANGELES—P-22, the mountain lion who was captured Dec. 12 in a Los Feliz backyard in a severely underweight and injured condition, was euthanized Dec. 17 morning, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials announced. “This really hurts,” the department’s Director Chuck Bonham said Saturday morning, fighting back tears. “It’s been an incredibly difficult several…


Wildlife Officials Capture Famed P-22 Mountain Lion, Examination Underway

LOS ANGELES—Wildlife officials Dec. 13 will continue evaluating the health of famed Griffith Park mountain lion P-22 after the big cat’s capture in the backyard of a Los Feliz home. In a joint statement, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and National Park Service (NPS) said the animal was successfully tranquilized on Dec….


Oldest US Active Park Ranger Retires at 100

RICHMOND, Calif.—The National Park Service (NPS) announced Mar. 31 that Betty Reid Soskin retired after more than 15 years at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. She celebrated her 100th birthday in September 2021. A middle school in El Sobrante honored her by renaming the school after her. “To…


National Park Service Denies South Dakota Request for Mount Rushmore July 4 Fireworks

The National Park Service has denied South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s request for fireworks at Mount Rushmore to mark the Fourth of July, citing the risk of sparking wildfires. It marks the second consecutive year that the Republican governor has been turned down by the agency for a fireworks event at the national memorial. The…


Signs of Inbreeding Among SoCal Mountain Lions Raise Extinction Fears

LOS ANGELES—Scientists tracking two local mountain lion populations, one in the Santa Monica Mountains and another in the Santa Anas, have identified the first reproductive signs of inbreeding among these groups, which are cut off from breeding options by busy freeways. Led by the University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA), the study—which is available online and will be published in…


Man Reflects on His 9/11 History and Flight 93 Families Honoring New Heroes

It was a beautiful day for golf and Steve Aaron, then-deputy communications director for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, intended to enjoy a few rounds with coworkers who were enjoying a last leisure day before state senators and representatives returned to session in Harrisburg. Most folks still carried beepers in 2001, instead of cell phones. That…