Mountain Lion Killed on 405 Freeway: Photos From Before & After

By Simone Wilson Thu., Sep. 1 2011 at 7:00 PM

National Park Service

When the 15-month-old mountain lion known by National Park Service animal trackers as "P-18" (real cute) was killed on the 405 last Tuesday morning, adorable photos circulated of little P-body in his prime kitten years.

So sweet! And so young, to die! (See, right.)

But the only news outlet with the balls to print the "after" shot -- a bloody, mangled mess that could induce guilt in even the proudest Hummer douche -- was the Acorn, a lovely and admirably thorough local-news blog that serves the Valley's hilly outskirts. So here they are: P-18's before and after pics. Be forewarned that they're not for the squeamish.

But even if you're squeamish, do yourself a favor and look anyway, because you're a terrible human who (presumably) drives a car, or at least takes part in L.A.'s dreadful freeway system in some way, and you deserve to see what you've done. (Sorry for the bleeding-heart rant there. Something about P-18's beautiful self, even in death, inspires it in us.)

Here he is, happily navigating the Santa Monica Mountains circa July 2011.

National Park Service via the Acorn

And here he is, not so happily, on Tuesday, after trying to cross the 405 South, just below the Getty.

National Park Service via the Acorn

Sorry to end your week like this, but remember: It was worse for P-18. It's one thing when cars crash into other cars on the 405. (Or when cars almost crash into crazy naked people.) But when innocent, unknowing animals get involved, it's the most heartbreaking thing on Earth.

"Investing in connected pieces of parkland and constructing wildlife crossings along major freeways around Los Angeles is essential for long-term mountain lion survival," reads the National Park Service's obit for P-18.

R.I.P.

[@simone_electra/swilson@laweekly.com]

Tags:

animal tracking, freeway, mountain lion, National Parks Service, P-18, the 405

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Guest

Unfortunately Simone, wildlife do not always take the trails meant for their safety - and I reject your guilt trip because I drive a car and use the freeways. I hate to see the magnificent animal die, but I feel no guilt about it - so keep your rants to yourself. They could have released her in a safer wildlife area that is NOT adjacent to the 405.

Ecocentrist

Blah, blah, blah, says the anthropocentrist.

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In2creating

This is so sad. Maybe he was the mountain lion I saw jump across the trail while I was hiking at the top of Hayvenhurst. There are so few of them left. I hope this never happens again.