This article digs into Marin County’s first mountain lion capture—a big step in a new research push to understand and live alongside the region’s elusive big cats.
The project centers around Lagunitas and spreads into towns from San Rafael to San Anselmo. It marks a milestone for the Living with Lions program, which is now expanding its Sonoma County tracking work into Marin.
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The mission? Use science to help people live safely near mountain lions and shape conservation efforts across the Marin Headlands, Point Reyes, and Sausalito’s waterfront edges.
Marin’s First Mountain Lion Tracked Under a New Initiative
Researchers pulled off a landmark capture in Marin County, nabbing an 8-year-old, 140-pound male mountain lion called P-60 in the Lagunitas area after some locals lost livestock.
They used the goats’ remains as bait, lured the lion into a cage, tranquilized him, took blood samples, fitted a GPS collar, and then set him free. Now they’re tracking his movements across western Marin and neighboring counties.
This is just the first step in a bigger plan to map coastal wildlife corridors, from Mill Valley and Tiburon up through Nicasio and beyond.
Partnerships Behind the Study
The project is led by Living with Lions, a Marin-based conservation group, along with All Hands Ecology (formerly Audubon Canyon Ranch) and True Wild Conservation.
They got a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to bring a decade-old tracking program from Sonoma County into Marin. Now they’re expanding the map of where mountain lions roam—from Sausalito to Novato and across the redwood-filled watershed.
Captured lions get tested for sex, age, weight, and overall health. Blood samples help track genetics and diseases.
Researchers share their findings with Marin residents and the broader conservation community. It’s all about advancing science and public education in places like Fairfax, Corte Madera, Larkspur, and Tiburon.
What This Means for Marin Communities
This program focuses on coexistence.
In Marin, teams give classroom talks and offer advice to help people reduce risks to pets and livestock. Locals are encouraged to use sturdy nighttime enclosures for domestic animals and to follow best practices, especially near rural edges of towns like San Anselmo and San Rafael.
The Marin effort works alongside ongoing programs in Point Reyes Station and Olema. Coexistence isn’t just about tracking—it’s about daily choices and safe habits, too.
Behavior, Territory, and Movement
Mountain lions here really get around. In Sonoma County, female lions cover 30–50 square miles, while males wander 100–200 square miles.
In Marin, researchers see that lions mostly eat black-tailed deer but will go after unprotected livestock and pets if given the chance.
The local population is still a bit of a mystery. Geography tends to push southbound lions back north or east, which creates some unique behaviors along the Marin coast and hills.
The team also maps road crossings to help protect lions from cars and spot critical wildlife corridors from Sausalito to Mill Valley, and out toward Nicasio and West Marin.
Safeguarding Lions on Marin Roads and Corridors
Protecting mountain lions from traffic is a big part of the study.
By pinpointing key road crossings—spots where drivers need to stay alert and maybe even see new mitigation efforts—the project aims to cut down on car-related injuries. This helps keep hillside and coastal habitats connected, from Bolinas to San Geronimo.
The work shapes local planning and encourages volunteer stewardship across Marin towns, from Fairfax’s hills to the southern redwoods near Larkspur and Corte Madera.
What Residents Can Do
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Funding, Access, and the Path Forward in Marin
Living with Lions runs on donations and grants. The team relies on public reports and trail cameras to track cats and is always looking for more access to Marin sites.
They want to get a deeper understanding of mountain lions in the Marin Headlands, the woods near Bolinas, and the corridors stretching toward San Geronimo and Point Reyes.
For folks from San Anselmo to Novato, this program offers fresh data and practical steps to help reduce conflict and protect both people and wildlife in Marin County.
Get Involved Across Marin Towns
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Marin’s mix of coastal beauty and rolling hills always feels special. Mountain lions like P-60 are out there, and it’s up to all of us—from San Rafael to Point Reyes Station—to keep conservation grounded in science and community.
Here is the source article for this story: Mountain lion captured in Marin as wildlife project expands
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