Mountain Lion Foundation

THE MOUNTAIN LION FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT MOUNTAIN LIONS SURVIVE AND FLOURISH IN THE WILD. WE DO THIS WORK BY CHAMPIONING BROAD PROTECTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS AND THEIR HABITATS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, FOSTERING APPRECIATION OF MOUNTAIN LIONS AND THE ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE, AND CULTIVATING PROACTIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED COEXISTENCE FOR PEOPLE AND LIONS.

PROTECTION - THE MOUNTAIN LION FOUNDATION CULTIVATES PROACTIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED COEXISTENCE FOR THE PROTECTION OF BOTH PEOPLE AND LIONS. WE WORK IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT LIVING WITH LIONS IS NOT JUST POSSIBLE, BUT SIMPLE. THE MOUNTAIN LION FOUNDATION PROVIDES INFORMATION, TOOLS, AND ADVICE ABOUT PROTECTING LIONS TO A RANGE OF PEOPLE FAMILIES, FARMERS AND RANCHERS, STATE AGENCY PERSONNEL, JOURNALISTS, RURAL DECISION MAKERS, AND MORE TO HELP COMMUNITIES LIVE PEACEFULLY AMONG LIONS, ADDRESS COUGAR ENCOUNTERS AS THEY OCCUR, AND GIVE MOUNTAIN LIONS EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO FLOURISH. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, THE MOUNTAIN LION FOUNDATION RESPONDED WITH PRO-PROTECTION INFORMATION AND ADVICE TO MANY DOZENS OF INCIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SUCH AS LION SIGHTINGS, SUSPECTED DEPREDATIONS, AND LION MORTALITIES. WE ALSO DISSEMINATED INFORMATION TO HOBBY FARMERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PRODUCER COMMUNITY THAT HELPED THEM COEXIST PEACEFULLY WITH THEIR LION NEIGHBORS.

PUBLIC OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION THE MOUNTAIN LION FOUNDATION FOSTERS APPRECIATION OF MOUNTAIN LIONS AND THEIR ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE. MOUNTAIN LIONS ARE AN INDISPENSABLE KEYSTONE SPECIES. HOWEVER, LIKE MANY TOP CARNIVORES, MOUNTAIN LIONS SUFFER FROM SOME WIDELY HELD, BUT FALSE AND HARMFUL MISCONCEPTIONS. OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH DISPELS THOSE MYTHS AND MISINFORMATION AND HELPS PEOPLE TO SEE MOUNTAIN LIONS AS A VITAL APEX SPECIES DESERVING PRESERVATION RATHER THAN EXPLOITATION. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, THE MOUNTAIN LION FOUNDATION REBUILT ITS OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS FROM THE GROUND UP, REVITALIZING, REFOCUSING AND GROWING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT; RELAUNCHING OUR MONTHLY WEBINAR SERIES, LIVING WITH LIONS; IMPROVING OUR WEBSITES ACCESSIBILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY; AND COMPLETELY REDESIGNING OUR PRINT AND EMAIL NEWSLETTERS. THE RESULT WAS INCREASED ENGAGEMENT ON ALL CHANNELS PLUS NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING MOUNTAIN LIONS AND THEIR HABITATS.

ADVOCACY THE MOUNTAIN LION FOUNDATION CHAMPIONS BROAD PROTECTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. WORKING WITH POLICYMAKERS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, WE EMPOWER OUR MEMBERS AND PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR STRONG PROTECTION FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS AND THEIR HABITATS. FROM SUPPORTING MEASURES THAT REDUCE HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT TO PUSHING FOR STRONGER, MORE SCIENCE-BASED REGULATIONS ON HUNTING AND TRAPPING, WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINES, MAKING PRO-LION VOICES HEARD. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, THE MOUNTAIN LION FOUNDATION AND ITS MEMBERS AND PARTNERS ADVOCATED FOR PROACTIVE, SCIENCE-BASED PROTECTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS IN ALMOST EVERY WESTERN STATE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN CALIFORNIA WE ADVOCATED SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO BAN CERTAIN RODENTICIDES, WHICH HAD BEEN FOUND IN WILD LION POPULATIONS. IN UTAH, WE WORKED TO OPPOSE NEW LEGISLATION THAT OPENED UP UNLIMITED LION HUNTING THAT LAW IS NOW IN EFFECT, AND WE EXPLORED AND EVENTUALLY LAUNCHED A LAWSUIT TO OPPOSE IT.