Mountain lions are increasingly encountering humans as urban expansion pushes into their habitat, creating conflict situations that result in lethal removal of individual animals who are simply following prey into human-dominated landscapes.
Mountain lions killed through depredation permits experience the welfare cost of human-caused death that would not occur without landscape-level human encroachment on their habitat. Vehicle strikes cause traumatic injuries that may be immediately fatal or result in prolonged suffering. Kittens whose mothers are killed face starvation and loss of the skills transfer that comes from maternal care. Non-lethal deterrents including livestock guardian animals, night penning, and flashing light systems can prevent most livestock predation events, making lethal control often unnecessary when alternatives are properly implemented.