Felidae Conservation Fund

India’s tiger population has more than doubled in the past two decades (~3,700). Connectivity between remaining tiger habitats is more important than ever, so that tigers can safely move through their territories and hunt native prey. www.daily-sun.com/world/901764

This past Saturday (Oct 24) was International Day of Climate Action! A changing climate could affect wildlife in different ways, and this includes wild cats. Swipe to learn about how snow leopards may be affected and how you can help. #climatechange #snowleopard #bigcat #wildlife

Urban expansion can fragment wildlife habitat, isolating populations. By identifying barriers and tracking genetic exchange, we can evaluate how wildlife crossing structures, meant to facilitate connectivity, can help populations thrive. wildlandsnetwork.org/stories/snif...

By collecting data about #puma activity & health around #Marin & the broader Bay Area, we're building one of #California’s most detailed databases about wild felid health. This helps us better understand and support pumas as they face growing challenges to their survival. ptreyes.org/news/otis/

A reminder- #California Dept of Fish and Wildlife is accepting comments re: the #Bobcat Conservation and Management Plan until Nov 1st. The plan will decide whether to end the 6 year hunting moratorium. Learn how to add your voice! plumassun.org/2026/10/07/c...

A puma was spotted in San Francisco's panhandle in Sept… or was it? According to messages between animal control and public safety officials, the sighting was never confirmed. This event highlights the importance of validating sightings before alerting the media & public. shorturl.at/UoiBB

The rusty-spotted cat is the world's smallest wild cat & are found in India, Sri Lanka, & Nepal. They weigh just a few pounds & are elusive, making them difficult to study. Little is known about their ecology. indiandefencereview.com/meet-the-wor...

California is currently deciding whether to allow hunting of bobcats. Bobcats provide important ecosystem services & are important for rodent control. Email wildlifemgt@wildlife.ca.gov & fgc@fgc.ca.gov by Nov 1 to urge permanent protection! Read our latest Substack on this ! shorturl.at/ysBRQ

From DNA and parasites, to pollutants & stress hormones- fecal samples from wild cats provide a unique window into their health. In Felidae’s Wild Cat Health Project, we study puma & bobcat health at the urban edge. Findings help identify hotspots in disease risk. jmlt.org/2024/12/11/c...

Genetics have unveiled what years of morphological analysis got wrong- Miracinonyx trumani, an extinct big cat was thought to be the cheetah’s ancestor. But new evidence suggests they're more closely related to pumas. scitechdaily.com/ancient-dna-... #cheetah #evolution #bigcat

CA is considering lifting the ban on bobcat hunting and trapping and the CDFW wants to hear from YOU! You can send a public comment via email until Nov 1 to wildlifemgmt@wildlife.ca.gov. Learn more here t.ly/ICPLx

93°F & still on the move🔥 #Pumas don't sweat through their skin, they pant & sweat through their paw pads. Moving through 90+ degree weather takes serious energy! Notice the open-mouth breathing. That visual panting is evaporative cooling in action.

Oct 4 is World Animal Day! Our work spans multiple threatened wild cat species, including bobcats and pumas in California, 9 wild felids in Bhutan, Geoffroy’s cat and pampas cat in Argentina, & cheetahs in Kenya. Learn more: Felidaefund.org #wildcat #WorldAnimalDay #mountainlion #bobcat  #smallcat

In Brazil's Pantanal wetlands, eco-tourists' documentation for these wildcats have helped researchers track these rare interactions. Read more: discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/jaguar-fighting-puma-pantanal Report a sighting: bapp.org/meet-puma/sightings #pantanal #brazil #wildcat #jaguar #puma

Orange County has one of the highest human population densities in CA, so pumas and bobcats face serious challenges to survive. With camera traps and scat surveys, we’re collecting data on their habitat use and health to better understand how they navigate life at the urban edge. shorturl.at/ODhNC

A historic moment for tiger conservation just took place in Kazakhstan this year! Read more: news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/08/kazakhstan-releases-first-tiger-into-the-wild-in-70-years Check out our work on wild cats here! felidaefund.org #conservation #puma #tiger #wildlife #rehabilitation

One of our all-star volunteers, Jeff Ehrlich, was just featured by alma mater! Check out what he's been up to with us in this article. We're grateful for his support with our research! Thanks Jeff! alumni.cornell.edu/snack-bar/th... #conservation #puma #wildlife #appreciation

A mountain lion was spotted in San Francisco 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, as urban development continues to expand, there is less undisturbed habitat for wildlife to use. Report a puma here! bapp.org/meet-puma/si... www.kqed.org/news/1205204... #puma #mountainlion #sanfrancisco #bayarea #wildcat

Every week, 1–2 pumas die on CA roads. In some regions, cars may be killing them faster than the population can replace them. Wildlife crossings, slower driving at dawn & dusk, & your sightings can prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions. 💛 Support our work. Make pumas safe in CA felidaefund.org/donate

Puma encounters are VERY rare, yet the Bay Area is still puma country so it's important that we know how to respond if you see one. Remember, they want to avoid us and they do a pretty good job of it. felidaefund.org/learn/safety... #wildlife #puma #mountainlion #hiking #conservation

Rabies has a nearly 100% fatality rate & can affect wild cats. Vaccinating pets can protect wild cat population health & prevent human rabies transmission from dogs and cats. www.msn.com/en-us/money/... #Rabies #Vaccine #Pets #WildCat #onehealth

Orange County is losing ~ 1 puma per month, thanks to ongoing development. We're tracking this by analyzing camera footage & scat samples to understand how urban expansion affects puma health & behavior. Read more rb.gy/7qwmab See our research: felidaefund.org #MountainLion #OrangeCounty #california

House cat? no, this is an African wildcat! They live in Africa & in southwest and Central Asia. They're the wild ancestor of today’s domestic cats, weighing up to ~18 lbs. Unfortunately, hybridization with domestic cats is their biggest threat. #wildcat #smallcat #wildlife #conservation

Most environmental legislation protects species. Without formal scientific recognition, a unique animal can't be added to the Red List & receive government protection. The discovery of Leopardus tilcayo provides a legal handle to fight for its survival. Read more! shorturl.fm/2CXfb 📸 : Joel Sartore

A new wild cat species has been discovered, the 1st in 100+ yrs! Initially discovered when a Bolivian researcher brought it to a wildlife sanctuary, genetic testing has since confirmed it as a new species. www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-... #wildcat #bolivia #southamerica #wildlife

How does life at the urban edge affect puma health? We used camera traps to study variation in puma body condition across the Bay Area. Higher body condition scores in areas with moderate human development may reflect differences in puma prey base. Read the full paper: shorturl.at/jPqkx

Researchers used #cameratraps to study #wildlife behavior before & during the Chernobyl Russian occupation. Behaviors changed post-occupation for most species but not for #lynx. Camera traps allow us to study wildlife in dangerous & inaccessible areas. #wildcat www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/s...

Have you heard of the marbled cat? This small cat species is a focal species in our Bhutan Wild Cat Health Project. They're excellent climbers and are solitary. Our Bhutan project explores how free-roaming domestic dogs affect their population health. Learn more! felidaefund.org/projects/res...

Cheetahs have survived several population bottlenecks throughout history, leaving them with unusually low genetic diversity, complicating conservation efforts for wild cheetahs. Learn more about cheetah genetics: shorturl.at/Y0gpb 📷: Tsavo Cheetah Project #cheetah #genetic #wildcat

Why do mountain lion sightings need to be validated? & why does this matter? Unfortunately, most 'sightings' are not valid, which can cause panic and fear, leading to misconceptions about lion numbers. Learn more in our new Substack article felidaeconservationfund.substack.com/p/chasing-gh...

A bobcat hit by a car last month on a TX highway highlights that habitat fragmentation pushes wildlife closer to human areas. In CA, I-280 is especially deadly for wildlife. Foster coexistence by obeying speed limits, esp in evening - early AM when animals are most active. shorturl.at/o86KS

Do you know what to do if you see a mountain lion? Encounters are rare but the Bay Area is still mountain lion country so it's important to know what to do if you come across one while in nature. Do NOT approach, do NOT run. Make yourself big and make noise. www.kqed.org/news/1205204...

Have you heard of the Chinese mountain cat (Felis bieti)? This elusive small cat lives in the high-altitude regions of the eastern Tibetan Plateau & is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. felidaefund.org/learn/cats/c... #conservation #china #wildcat #smallcat #asia

Today is #California #Biodiversity Day! California has more rare & threatened species of any state. There are 1000+ vertebrate species here, including 200+ mammals! Our California camera trap network allows us to study some of this amazing biodiversity. Learn more bapp.org #wildlife #cameratrap

Was a puma in SF last night? >90% of 'puma' sightings are not actually pumas. Whether this was actually a puma isn't known. Pumas are elusive and prefer to avoid people. The animal disappeared last night and is confirmed to no longer be in the area. sfstandard.com/2026/09/06/s... #sanfrancisco

Mountain lions prefer to avoid people so encounters are quite rare. If you do see a lion while hiking- stay calm and do not approach. Give them a wide berth so they can go on their way. If they approach you, make noise and make yourself look big. Leash your pets. www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

Pumas don't live in packs - This is a family group! They're mostly solitary as adults, but cubs stay with mom for up to 2 years. Ongoing human development can threaten cub survival if they lose mom before they are fully ready to live on their own. #cameratrap #animalbehavior #california

Last month, a #puma was seen in #LACounty, walking down the road during the day. With habitat loss, pumas must move through human areas. They'd rather avoid us, but if you see one do NOT approach, do NOT run. Make yourself big & make noise. Don’t leave pets unattended outside. tinyurl.com/3crt55k4

Yesterday (Aug 30) was International Puma Day! Pumas are keystone species, regulating prey populations & preventing the spread of disease, helping to keep nature thriving right in our own backyard. Learn more about the Bay Area Puma Project at bapp.org! #mountainlion #puma #Wildlife #wildcat