Can We Get These Adorable Mountain Lion Kittens Some Actual Names With Words?
Nat Geo – Biologists in Southern California caught their first glimpse of Simi Hills’ newest residents last week: four fluffy mountain lion kittens. The all-female litter is the first scientists have documented in the Simi Hills, an area long devoid of the big cats due to its proximity to two major highways.
Because mountain lions—also known as cougars—typically den in caves and thick brush, locating their litters can be challenging. But this posse of blue-eyed, speckled kittens was easy to find. That’s because biologists from the National Park Service outfitted their mother, known as P-62, with a GPS collar back in February, so they could track her movements. When biologist Jeff Sikich noticed P-62’s movements had become highly localized, he began to suspect that the young mother was getting ready to give birth to her second litter. After locating the den, Sikich and his team waited patiently for a chance to inspect the kittens while their mom was away.
On June 11, they finally got their chance. The team found the litter nestled in a small cave on the grounds of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, a decommissioned nuclear power and weapons testing facility. The researchers performed health checks and attached identification tags to the ears of each kitten. The kittens, named P-66, P-67, P-68, and P-69, appeared to be four and a half weeks old and in perfect health.
I wanted to keep this blog short and sweet but I’ve got a few gripes to get off my chest regarding these “biologists” and the work they’re doing out in California. I appreciate the fact that they’re taking the time out of their lives to do this important research but if you want people to get behind your cause, a good place to start would’ve been giving these sweet, precious mountain lion kittens that you just discovered some actual names. You know, like names that involve words.
It just seems like it would’ve made for a much better story. Like I really want to get fired up about how cute these baby mountain lions are, but with names like P-66, P-67, P-68, and the much more risque, P-69, I’m finding it difficult to arouse my senses. Such a missed opportunity.
Right now I could be writing a blog about some adorable mountain lion kittens with even more adorable names, but instead I’m stuck cranking jokes out left-handed like I’m 15 and looking to change things up in the bedroom.
Anywho, I suppose we can still find happiness in what we’ve been given. I couldn’t help but find myself wishing I had my own baby mountain lion to go home to after watching that Nat Geo clip. Those blue eyes are to die for. And the way they try to act intimidating for the camera as it scans across their little hideaway? Fucking love it. Apparently the place this mother mountain lion chose to build her den and raise her kittens is like the most dangerous stretch of land for mountain lions in California because it’s surrounded by highways and at least 17 mountain lions have been killed there by motorists since 2012, so she’s gonna need a lot of our thoughts and prayers.
It’s a tall task, but I think we can do it. Long live P-62 and her daughters, P-66, P-67, P-68, and P-69. Stay safe out there.