Summary: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Tonight, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Rio Theatre, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is hosting a presentation titled “Mountain Lions In Our Midst.” I gather that tonight’s presentation is now a “sold out” event, but even if you aren’t going to be able to attend personally, you can go online to get more information about what the Land Trust is doing to protect wildlife, and to protect mountain lions in particular. As usual, there are links to more information at kusp.org/landuse. UCSC Professor Chris Wilmers is making the presentation this evening. Wilmers heads the Santa Cruz Puma Project. He is a conservation biologist, and he points out that maintaining habitat “connectivity” is a key requirement for protecting wildlife. Mountain lions range throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains, and to survive, in the long term, they have to be able to get across Highway 17. Wilmers says that mountain lions and other wildlife have routinely tried to cross Highway 17 at the so-called “Laurel Curve,” dangerous for drivers, but even more dangerous for mountain lions and other wildlife species. The Land Trust is now working to acquire a 10-acre property at Laurel Curve, which is right in the path to the best possible wildlife crossing. By providing a wildlife “underpass,” the Land Trust can help keep Santa Cruz County safe for mountain lions and other species. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Land Trust Website Land Trust Program To Protect Wildlife Santa Cruz Puma Project Dr. Christopher Wilmers
