In a tragic incident early Saturday morning, a mountain lion was discovered dead in a traffic lane on the 101 Freeway in the Agoura Hills area, less than half a mile away from the construction site of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported.

According to the CHP incident log, the lifeless body of the mountain lion was found shortly before 5 a.m. in the slow lane on the southbound side of the freeway, near Liberty Canyon Road. The deceased animal was later relocated to the right shoulder of the road, with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel being called to the scene.

At this time, it is still unclear whether the mountain lion had been struck by a vehicle, as confirmation is pending investigation. The discovery comes after a recent incident late last month, where surveillance footage captured a large cougar roaming a backyard in Agoura Hills, leaving residents both in awe and fearful.

Meanwhile, progress on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing project has been ongoing despite the unfortunate incident. Last month, the construction reached a significant milestone when the final girder was installed. The girder installations commenced on April 15, beginning on the southbound side of the freeway and subsequently shifting to the northbound side at the start of May.

The construction of the wildlife crossing began in 2022 and is estimated to reach completion by late 2025 or early 2026. The crossing is designed to provide a safe passage for wildlife in the area, especially large animals like mountain lions, thus reducing the risk of accidents on the freeway caused by animal-vehicle collisions.

Efforts are being made to ascertain whether the deceased mountain lion discovered on the 101 Freeway is the same one observed in the backyard of an Agoura Hills residence in May. With the construction of the wildlife crossing progressing, hopes remain high for the successful implementation of this crucial project, aiming to protect both wildlife and motorists in the region.