(KGTV) — A mountain lion known for being the first such to cross the 101 Freeway twice has reportedly been found dead.
The remains believed to be of P-55 were recently discovered, according to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Officials are unsure how P-55 died, but said it could have been rat poison or a fight with another male mountain lion. A mortality signal on P-55's collar failed to emit a signal and when officials found him, his remains were already too decomposed to determine a cause.
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"He was a beautiful animal who survived longer than most males in the Santa Monica Mountains, but ultimately met his end at a relatively young age," a park ranger wrote on Facebook.
P-55 was the first mountain lion to cross the 101 Freeway twice, a feat impressive for a mountain lion, much less one of that age.
The mountain lion's home range was mainly the northwestern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, according to park officials. He was the subject of local news coverage and made headlines when he was photographed peering into a Los Angeles County home.
Officials estimate P-55 was about 3 years old.
