Meet Our Study’s Newest Mountain Lion Kittens!

[Sedona]

http://www.nps.gov/samo/blogs/Meet-Our-Study-s-Newest-Mountain-Lion-Kittens.htm

Evybudee sez "SQUEE"

Our newest research subjects are two spotted mountain lion kittens between the ages of three and four weeks old. P-43 and P-44, as the two are known, are from two separate litters on opposite ends of our study area.

P-43 is a young female found in a remote area of the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu Creek State Park. We've been following her mom, P-23, since she was three weeks old and this is her second litter of kittens. P-23 gained fame a few years back when a motorcyclist spotted her early one morning on top of a deer on Mulholland Highway.

The image below gives you a sense of what these moms are looking for in a den. Many of mom's GPS points are localized in one small area for the first three weeks after she gives birth (which is how researchers know she might have a litter), so our biologist, Jeff Sikich, has a GPS device in hand as he tries to track down the den location.

[Cleita]

1. Oh. I just want to pet and cuddle those babies. eom

[shenmue]

2. Squee!

[NV Whino]

3. Oh cool!

I used to live around there at Malibu Lakeside. I was awakened one night by a mountain lion yowling. Sat straight up in bed, I did. I'm pretty sure the hair on the back of my neck was standing at attention, too.

[Fla Dem]

4. I fear for all the wildlife with the raging fires in California. Hope this precious girl is ok. nt

[aquamarina]

5. What beautiful eyes.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Make sure to name one of the males Cecil

On the wild chance that they're both female, then name one Cecilia.

It's a much better name than P-43.

[Vinca]

7. Their eyes are so blue! What gorgeous little animals.

[pinto]

8. I'm glad to see the measures taken to be non-intrusive. Cute kittens, but they need to remain "wild"

It's basic to their survival. Thanks for the pics.

[petronius]

9. Adorable! I would not recognize that as a mountain lion

At least, not until momma showed up...

[ailsagirl]

10. So exquisitely beautiful

Thanks for sharing!!