Section 4800 Of Chapter 10. Mountain Lions From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 4. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 10.
4800
. (a) The mountain lion (genus Puma) is a specially protected
mammal under the laws of this state.
(b) (1) It is unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport,
import, or sell a mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion,
except as specifically provided in this chapter or in Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 2116) of Division 3.
(2) This chapter does not prohibit the sale or possession of a
mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion, when the owner can
demonstrate that the mountain lion, or product of a mountain lion,
was in the person's possession on June 6, 1990.
(3) This chapter does not prohibit the possession of a mountain
lion carcass or a product of a mountain lion carcass, if all of the
following requirements are met:
(A) The carcass or carcass product is prepared or being prepared
for display, exhibition, or storage, for a bona fide scientific or
educational purpose, at a nonprofit museum or government-owned
facility generally open to the public or at an educational
institution, including a public or private postsecondary institution.
(B) The mountain lion was taken in California consistent with the
requirements of this chapter and any other applicable law.
(C) The department has authorized the possession of the carcass or
carcass product for the purposes of this paragraph.
(c) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by
imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or a fine
of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that
fine and imprisonment. An individual is not guilty of a violation of
this section if it is demonstrated that, in taking or injuring a
mountain lion, the individual was acting in self-defense or in
defense of others.
(d) Section 219 does not apply to this chapter. Neither the
commission nor the department shall adopt any regulation that
conflicts with or supersedes a provision of this chapter.