Sunday Fun: The Mountain Lions of Los Angeles Get Their Own Social Media Presence

The National Park Service has launched the Puma Profiles, making it easier to explore the lives of the city's largest collection of feral residents.

1 minute read

November 6, 2016, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Mountain Lion

National Park Service / Flickr

After making a gratuitous "cougar" in Los Angeles joke, Elina Shatkin shares the news of the new online profiles of the 53 mountain lions tagged by the National Park Service over the past 14 years.

The so-called Puma Profiles put faces to the names of the region's big cats, which have mustered a little bit of a fan club among the residents of the celebrity-obsessed city. The mountain lion known as P-22, for instance, was captured in a now-famous photo at night in front of the Hollywood sign.

The article focuses on the science behind the tracking and analysis of the region's mountain lions, which face numerous environmental threats—from rodenticide to freeways to inbreeding. The risks of urban wildlife—on both sides of the equation—were documented in more variety by a 2015 book titled Feral Cities: Adventures with Animals in the Urban Jungle.

Sunday, October 30, 2016 in KPCC

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

People walking in downtown St. Louis, walking past shops.

Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment

The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.

9 seconds ago - Smart Cities Dive

A swamp in South Carolina with tall pale trees and Spanish moss in the water.

Satanic place names

From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.

October 31 - The Daily Yonder

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters