Reward Offered for California Mountain Lion Poachers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of poachers who killed a mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains last month.

The Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG)CAL-TIP line is offering a $2,500 reward and the Humane Society of theUnited States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust is matching that amount.

The lion was discovered onSept. 11, 2011after DFG and the National Park Service received a call of a dead mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains. DFG game wardens determined that the lion did not die of natural causes and opened an investigation.

Mountain lions are designated as a “specially protected mammal” in California, and it is illegal to hunt or trap them.

DFG and the National Park Service are seeking information related to the lion death and the parties responsible. Anyone with any information regarding this case should call the the DFG Cal-Tip hotline at 1-888-334-2258.