Iconic Mountain Lion Photo Spurs Wildlife Crossing Campaign in Los Angeles

Photographer Steve Winter’s decade‑long pursuit culminated in a nighttime image of P‑22, a mountain lion with a tracking collar, walking beneath the Hollywood sign. The photo, captured after remote cameras were stolen and equipment failed, instantly made P‑22 a symbol of the wildlife challenges posed by Los Angeles’ roads and development. The image galvanized public support for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a project designed to reconnect fragmented habitats across U. S. Route 101, one of the region’s busiest freeways. Winter and journalist Sharon Guynup later expanded on the story in their book *Big Cats* and discussed its impact on a Mongabay Newscast interview with host Mike DiGirolamo.