A Wildlife Article from All-Creatures.org

P-22, California’s Beloved Mountain Lion, has Died

From Nathan Winograd
December 2022

P-22 was most celebrated as the poster child for a new land bridge across U.S. Interstate 10 that is 200 feet wide, crossing over 10 lanes of freeway.

P-22, California’s beloved mountain lion, has died.

In addition to kidney disease, he was recently hit by a car. He was put down after he was found in a residential backyard near the Santa Monica Mountains that were his home.

P-22 was celebrated in Los Angeles and inspired children’s books, clothing, and music.

But he was most celebrated as the poster child for a new land bridge across U.S. 101. P-22 was lonely, but he couldn’t find a mate because his habitat was cut off by the 101. In 2019, residents were asked if they would help P-22 find a mate by building the largest land bridge in the world, stretching 200 feet across 10 lanes of traffic, for $87 million. Over 99% said yes!

Today, construction for the bridge is underway, with a scheduled completion date of 2025, but P-22 will not be around to cross it. Thanks to P-22, however, countless other animals will.

A rendering shows how the bridge will let animals cross over traffic. From Wallis Anneberg Foundation

---

Return to Wildlife Articles