Mountain Lion Captured in Pacific Heights, San Francisco
A 2-year-old, 77-pound mountain lion that had been observed in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood since Sunday night was successfully located and captured on Tuesday morning. Crews from Animal Care & Control and Fish & Wildlife found the animal near an apartment building at California and Octavia Street.
The Capture Operation
Officials tranquilized the mountain lion to facilitate its safe removal from the urban environment. San Francisco Supervisor Stephen Sherrill stated that tranquilization would likely cause the animal to emerge from its hiding spot. Neighbors watched as crews worked for hours to secure and remove the animal.
"Tranquilization would likely cause the animal to emerge from its hiding spot."
— San Francisco Supervisor Stephen Sherrill
Release Back into the Wild
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that the mountain lion was released back into the wild directly from the capture site. Officials did not disclose the exact release location but indicated it was in the region and away from areas with a high density of male mountain lions. The animal had previously been tracked and tagged, with its last known location in Saratoga.
Understanding Urban Encounters
Fish and Wildlife officials noted that the animal was healthy for release. They also stated that mountain lions, particularly dispersing males, can enter urban areas while seeking to establish territory. This incident follows previous mountain lion sightings in San Francisco, including one in June 2020 near Oracle Park.