The early September death of a female puma along the highway connecting Riverside and Orange counties in the Santa Ana Mountains has wildlife advocates calling for more protection for California’s vulnerable mountain lion population .

Officials from the California Carnivores Program at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine/Drayer Wildlife Health Center confirmed Monday, Sept. 15, that a 3-year-old female puma, called ‘F390,’ was killed along Highway 74 , also known as the Ortega Highway.

The animal was found dead along the highway by the San Juan Creek trail, on Thursday, Sept. 4, Program Director Fernando Nájera said. OC Parks officials found the body, with its identifying collar destroyed.

“We are deeply saddened to share that mountain lion F390, one of the collared lion

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