Litter of kittens provides hope for Los Angeles mountain lions after dreadful year

Biologists found the three-week-old all-female litter in between the Santa Monica and Santa Susana mountain ranges

After a devastating year for Los Angeles mountain lions, researchers have made a hopeful discovery in the southern California hills: an all-female litter of kittens.

Biologists found the three cubs last week in what the National Park Service described as a “dense patch of poison oak nestled among large boulders” in between the Santa Monica and Santa Susana Mountain ranges. The kittens, just over three weeks old and known as P-113, P-114 and P-115, are healthy, the NPS said in a statement.