Dead mountain lion found on 405 Freeway near Getty Museum

A mountain lion was found dead on the northbound 405 Freeway, off of Sepulveda Blvd. near The Getty Museum, California Highway Patrol officials confirmed.

Police received reports of a deceased animal around 2:31 p.m. on Thursday, July 4 and responded, a CHP officer said Thursday. They identified the animal and called the state Department Fish and Wildlife.

The animal was fatally struck by a vehicle and found in the center divider of the freeway, according to reports.

Another mountain lion was found dead on June 15 on the 101 Freeway near Agoura Hills, close to the site of the future Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, currently under construction over the freeway. The fully-landscaped crossing is designed to provide a connection between the small population of mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains and the larger and genetically diverse populations to the north.

Scientists have also pitched the idea of fencing along freeways and roadways, adjacent to rural habitat — to prevent wild animals from trying to cross busy highways.

A new study from the UC Davis Road Ecology Center, a program of the Institute of Transportation Studies, estimated that 613 mountain lions were killed from being hit by cars in California during an eight-year span, about 70 big cats a year.

The number of mountain lions killed by vehicle strikes in California is rising each year, said center director Fraser Shilling. He estimated 5% of their population is disappearing just from vehicle collisions.

City News Service contributed to this report.