The National Park Service has confirmed that exposure to rodenticides was the cause of death for P-34 — the female mountain lion that was found dead in Point Mugu State Park on Sept. 30 — according to the Los Angeles Times.
Scientists at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Lab in San Bernardino discovered five different anticoagulant compounds in the puma’s liver during a necropsy.
Although highly toxic rat poisons known as second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are no longer available for retail sale, they are still used by agricultural operations and licensed pest control companies.
Los Angeles Times reported that P-34 was the first puma with a confirmed death linked to rodenticides since 2004, although they were a strong suspect in a few other cases.