Room to roam

Offcials push for wildlife overpass at Liberty Canyon

Liberty Canyon Road under the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills is one of the only places left in the area where mountain lions and other animals can move in and out of the Santa Monica Mountains.

But the roadway can be deadly.

Last October a mountain lion was struck and killed near the Liberty Canyon interchange as it tried to move south. Had it been able pass safely from one side of the freeway to the other, the young male could have helped bolster the cougar population in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Only one lion is known to have survived the highway crossing over the past decade.

Environmentalists agree that building a permanent wildlife corridor at Liberty Canyon Roadas well as at other points across the 118 and 23 freeways in Ventura Countyis the best hope for the animals.

On Feb. 24, two dozen residents and representatives from local cities, open space agencies and Caltrans toured the Liberty Canyon freeway interchange to see firsthand the obstacles animals face when trying to cross.

OVER THEREPaul Edelman of the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority discusses the need for a wildlife corridor in Liberty Canyon. The projects more than $10-million price tag will be an issue. SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers Over or under?

Most of the scientific community believes Liberty Canyon offers the best wildlife connection between the Simi Hills to the north and the Santa Monica Mountains to the south.

Since last year four mountain lions have been killed by cars in the region. In addition to the male cougar killed in October, three mountain lion kittens were struck by vehicles in recent weeks, one near Kanan Road in rural Agoura and two near the 126 Freeway in Ventura County.

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Room to roam