Mountain Lions: human-mountain lion conflicts program: scientific research: County of El Dorado.

Senator Alvarado-Gil's mountain lion management legislation aims to reduce human-wildlife conflicts in El Dorado County through expanded Department of Fish and Wildlife programs and research initiatives. The bill, named "Taylen and Wyatt's Law," requires the department to enhance its conflict prevention efforts in the county, where residents reported over 200 domestic animals killed by mountain lions in 2024 and two brothers were attacked by a juvenile male mountain lion.

The legislation establishes a grant program to help local governments and eligible applicants obtain equipment and implement measures protecting livestock and domestic animals from mountain lions. It directs the department to continue and expand scientific research on deterring mountain lions from communities and preventing habituation. The department must regularly attend local government meetings to provide updates on these efforts and depredation permitting processes.

Under the bill's provisions, which expire January 1, 2032, the department may extend successful programs to other regions while maintaining its commitment to El Dorado County. The Director of Fish and Wildlife must provide annual updates to legislative committees through 2033 and submit a comprehensive report by October 2030 detailing program outcomes and recommendations. The legislation requires a four-fifths vote of both legislative houses, consistent with the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990's requirements for modifying mountain lion protections.