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P-55 Dies unexpectedly, Suspected Rodenticide Poisoning

A 3-year-old cougar named P-55 who made news recently during a visit to a residence in Westlake Village earlier this year, was found dead by biologists with the National Park Service’s Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area.
 NPS spokeswoman Kate Kuykendall said; ” he was a beautiful animal who survived longer than most males in the Santa Monica Mountains, but ultimately met his end at a relatively young age,” 
The mountain lion was also locally famous for successfully crossing the freeway last August for a second time, which hopefully won’t be necessary with the new Wildlife Bridge that is now in the design phase. The NPS shared a video showing P-55 rubbing his cheeks on rocks, not knowing he’s on hidden camera.
Unfortunately, it is not clear how P-55 died as his collar did not emit a “mortality signal” NPS spokesman Kuykendall said, adding that his remains were too decomposed when biologists finally found them. But researchers suspect the “seemingly healthy” puma could have been the victim of rodenticide poisoning
Wildlife officials also said it’s possible he lost a fight with another male mountain lion, though there were no signs of a struggle in the area.
P-55’s home territory was on the northwestern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, Kuykendall said, “generally west of Las Virgenes Road and mostly north of Mulholland.”
There are an estimated 10 to 15 cougars in the Santa Monica Mountains, and the small population is rapidly becoming inbred, researchers say. Within 50 years, the local lion population could go extinct due to inbreeding, according to a 2016 UCLA study.
Malibu is still infested with poisonous rodenticide boxes being used by residents and businesses. professional extermination companies are using them as well and the danger of our pets coming in contact with them is growing if they are not banned quickly.
This practice must be to be stopped regionally, statewide and nationally.
Please Support Kian and Joel Schulman at Poison Free Malibu in their effort to push our city and state in the right direction

The Current Report Editor in Chief Cece Woods started The Local Malibu, an activism based platform in 2014. The publication was instrumental in the success of pro-preservation ballot measures and seating five top vote-getters in the Malibu City Council elections.

During the summer of 2018, Woods exposed the two-year law enforcement cover-up in the Malibu Creek State Park Shootings, and a few short months later provided the most comprehensive local news coverage during the Woolsey Fire attracting over one million hits across her social media platforms.

Since 2020, Woods was the only journalist reporting on the on-going public corruption involving former L.A. Metro CEO Phil Washington. Woods worked with Political Corruption expert Adam Loew, DC Watchdog organizations and leaders in the Capitol exposing Washington which ultimately led to the withdrawal of his nomination to head the FAA.

Woods also founded Malibu based 90265 Magazine and Cali Mag devoted to the authentic southern California lifestyle.

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