Mountain lions increasingly inhabit landscapes near human settlements, creating conflict that threatens both human safety and mountain lion welfare. Coexistence strategies reduce harm to both.
Mountain lion welfare is threatened by habitat fragmentation, vehicle collisions, and lethal conflict management. Isolated populations suffer genetic bottlenecks when road infrastructure prevents dispersal. Individual lions involved in conflicts may be killed despite non-lethal alternatives being available. Road collisions cause traumatic injury and death for dispersing young lions. Non-lethal conflict prevention including livestock guardian dogs, secure enclosures, and lighting reduces the need for lethal control. Wildlife crossings that reconnect fragmented landscapes reduce collision mortality and support population genetics.