Wild lions of Los Angeles are hunting and killing prey within just ONE MILE of human settlements

Scientists have discovered that the mountain lions of Los Angeles are hunting and killing live prey in areas which could bring them into contact with humans.

It was often suggested the killer carnivores stayed well away from people, preferring to hunt in isolated areas.

But a study from UCLA found the animals "killed closer to development than the researchers expected".

Although it is very rare for the beasts to attack humans, it cannot be ruled out.

The killer carnivores could easily kill a child or potentially even an adult.

Female lions are particularly prone to hunt in areas which are in close proximity to "sprinklers, swimming pools and cultivated gardens" - which are commonly found in the gardens and parks of suburban LA.

"Females... made kills a little less than a mile away, on average, from human development," the university said in a statement.

Mountain lions predominantly hunt deer, which are often drawn to areas of human habitation because of the abundant sources of water and food.

Wherever the wild deer go, lions are sure to follow, raising the risk of a human encounter.

"Some developed areas can be beneficial to mountain lions and further supports previous contentions that [human] disturbance is associated with greater prey availability," academics wrote.

Mountain lions are officially an endangered species. If they were to attack humans, the subsequent shift in public opinion could pose a devastating risk to conservation efforts.

Some 15 cats live in the Santa Monica Mountains, cut off by 405 and 101 freeways.

This raises the risk of them being run over, but also makes the beasts more prone to inbreeding.

"The most promising solution to the inbreeding problem would be construction of a wildlife bridge over eight lanes of the 101 freeway, but that's no small task," UCLA wrote.