Dead mountain lion found on Highway 101 near Wildlife Crossing

A mountain lion was found dead Saturday on the Ventura (101) Freeway near Agoura Hills, near the wildlife crossing currently under construction on the highway.

The animal was found in the rightmost lane of the southbound highway near Liberty Canyon Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. The agency said someone called at 4:48 a.m. about a possible animal in the road.

Wildlife advocates hope the crossing can save the local endangered mountain lion population from extinction, which could become inevitable if the lions continue a historic pattern of inbreeding due to the limited number of cats in the area.