Ranchers Fight Mountain Lion Attacks: California State Laws Protect Lions Not Sheep

AENN

Mountain lion attacks on California ranchers' sheep are managed under strict state protection laws, requiring ranchers to secure depredation permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to haze, relocate, or legally dispatch the predator.

Ranchers must first implement non-lethal deterrents.

Mountain lions are a specially protected species in California. In areas with frequent conflicts, such as the North Coast, Mendocino, Lake, and Monterey counties, cougars have been known to kill dozens of sheep and lambs in single sprees. 

Because lethal force is heavily restricted, local ranchers are encouraged to adopt non-lethal mitigation strategies to protect their flocks.