Bringing Mountain Lions to California as "Personal Property"

December 2, 2013

Question: A friend of mine told me that because mountain lions are not endangered or federally protected, that California cannot prevent a person who has taken one legally in another state from bringing it into the state as personal property. Is California blowing smoke? Thanks (Ken)

Answer: No, your friend is mistaken. Fish and Game Code Section 4800, which was added to the code as an Initiative Measure (Prop. 117) in 1990, designates mountain lions as "specially protected" in California, and prohibits their possession or importation into the state. However, Fish and Game Code Section 4800(b)(2) does allow for mountain lion possession if the owner can demonstrate the mountain lion was possessed prior to June 6, 1990.