“Lions are learning that humans typically pose no threat to them and therefore are adapting to become more comfortable around us. (However) they are still elusive animals that prefer not to be in contact with humans,” said California Fish and Wildlife environmental scientist Shelly Blair.

“Due to Prop. 17 CDFW has no way of managing lion populations other than through issuing a few depredation permits when lions kill livestock. Lions are specially protected in California,” she said. In 1972 action by the state made hunting mountain lions illegal, then the passing of Proposition 117 in 1992 deemed the cats a specially protected species.

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