Mountain lions’ struggle to survive near L.A

The news is out that there's a mountain lion living in Griffith Park these days, but what you may not know is why he branched out from his home in the west Santa Monica Mountains. Competition there is fierce — and, according to the family tree traced out by a UCLA lab, it's also a bit of a soap opera up there. At UCLA, forensic researchers test blood and saliva samples, compare bite marks, and use claw swabs to find traces of DNA. They're in the unusual field of wildlife forensics with the ability to determine which mountain lion killed another, who fathered the latest litter of kittens, and whether gene pools can cross freeway boundaries. The Robert Wayne Lab in the Division of Life Sciences takes the lead in collaborating with agencies like the National Park Service (NPS), with several other UCLA labs lending support. P8 as a kitten, before his father killed his mother. Click to enlarge.