Mountain Lion Killed on Highway 15 near Rainbow / Temecula

The above is a photo of one of the few mountain lions still alive in our region and under our protection. This very disappointing and frustrating.  Winston Vickers reported:

This is just south of the most likely crossing points (other than Temecula Creek Bridge) in our models.  The location is a bit puzzling in that on the west side there is a sheer cut at that point, suggesting the lion either came to the freeway side somewhere else and moved along the edge before trying to cross, or actually had crossed from the east and was hit right before reaching the west shoulder.  We will be doing genetics to determine genetic origin which will give at least a clue as to which direction he was going.  It is a male and looks young but we will know with a look at the teeth.  Just the animal / type of animal we needed to have make it across, a young male.  

This one and the last one hit by a car on I-15 at the end of the southbound ramp from the Rainbow Canyon Road bridge indicate the length of the freeway that needs to be fenced to direct animals to current and any future new crossings.  Fencing could be an interim step before construction of a new crossing somewhere down the road so that animals that come to the roadside would be more likely move to the bridge area - if an animal is motivated enough (like a migrating male) to brave the I-15 traffic I would think that the creek or any new crossing would be more appealing.    

The following photo shows the area where the mountain lion was killed on May 5, 2017. 

The most sensitive region for wildlife migration across Interstate 15 in Temecula is shown in the above picture. The photos shows Temecula Creek, Murrieta Creek and Confluent with Santa Margarita River. The underpass bridge of the interstate 15 is the lush vegetated area on the left central region of the photograph.

If the plan to subdivide the gulf course, shown on the lower left side of the above photo, is carried out, then the wildlife passage between the eastern and the western sections of their habitat would be completely eliminated.  In that case, a wildlife bridge across the highway would have to be mandated.