§ 4800 Mountain Lion Protection Laws

Key Takeaways

•Mountain lions are protected by law in this state—you can’t hurt, kill, own, move, bring in, or sell them or anything made from them unless the law says it’s okay.
•If you had a mountain lion or something made from one before June 6, 1990, you can keep it, but you have to prove you had it before that date.
•Scientists, schools, or museums can have a dead mountain lion or parts of it for teaching or research, but only if they get permission and follow the rules.
•Breaking this law can get you in big trouble—up to a year in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. But if a mountain lion attacks you or someone else, you can defend yourself without getting in trouble.

Example

A hunter finds an old mountain lion rug in their grandpa’s attic from the 1980s and wants to sell it.

The hunter can sell the rug only if they can prove their grandpa owned it before June 6, 1990. If they can’t prove it, selling the rug is against the law, and they could get fined or even go to jail.

(a) The mountain lion (genus Puma) is a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state. (b) (1) It is unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell a mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion, except as specifically provided in this chapter or in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2116) of Division 3. (2) This chapter does not prohibit the sale or possession of a mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion, when the owner can demonstrate that the mountain lion, or product of a mountain lion, was in the person’s possession on June 6, 1990. (3) This chapter does not prohibit the possession of a mountain lion carcass or a product of a mountain lion carcass, if all of the following requirements are met: (A) The carcass or carcass product is prepared or being prepared for display, exhibition, or storage, for a bona fide scientific or educational purpose, at a nonprofit museum or government-owned facility generally open to the public or at an educational institution, including a public or private postsecondary institution. (B) The mountain lion was taken in California consistent with the requirements of this chapter and any other applicable law. (C) The department has authorized the possession of the carcass or carcass product for the purposes of this paragraph. (c) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. An individual is not guilty of a violation of this section if it is demonstrated that, in taking or injuring a mountain lion, the individual was acting in self-defense or in defense of others. (d) Section 219 does not apply to this chapter. Neither the commission nor the department shall adopt any regulation that conflicts with or supersedes a provision of this chapter. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 154, Sec. 75. (AB 1527) Effective January 1, 2016. Note: This section was added on June 5, 1990, by initiative Prop. 117.)

Key Takeaways

•Mountain lions are protected by law in this state—you can’t hurt, kill, own, move, bring in, or sell them or anything made from them unless the law says it’s okay.
•If you had a mountain lion or something made from one before June 6, 1990, you can keep it, but you have to prove you had it before that date.
•Scientists, schools, or museums can have a dead mountain lion or parts of it for teaching or research, but only if they get permission and follow the rules.
•Breaking this law can get you in big trouble—up to a year in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. But if a mountain lion attacks you or someone else, you can defend yourself without getting in trouble.

Example

A hunter finds an old mountain lion rug in their grandpa’s attic from the 1980s and wants to sell it.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

References

§ 4800 Mountain Lion Protection Laws

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References