SAN FRANCISCO — Wildlife officials captured a 77-pound male mountain lion in the Pacific Heights neighborhood Tuesday morning after the animal was spotted roaming residential streets.
The cougar, estimated to be 2 years old, was cornered in a narrow, gated space between two apartment buildings near the intersection of Octavia and California streets. California Fish and Wildlife officers tranquilized the lion multiple times before they could safely reach it. To ensure safety during transport, authorities secured the lion's paws and covered its eyes. Removing the lion from the tight space took longer than expected.
Following the capture, experts from the San Francisco Zoo examined the animal. Chief veterinarian Dr. Adrian Mutlow and hospital manager Molly Potter found the mountain lion was in good health and determined it was fit to be released back into the wild.
The Tuesday morning capture ended a search that had begun the previous day. Park rangers briefly closed Lafayette Park on Monday afternoon, Jan. 26, to search the area. The park was reopened later that day with a warning to the public after rangers were unable to find the animal. Residents also received alerts regarding a sighting Monday evening blocks away from Pacific Avenue and Octavia Street.
According to officials, a new public alert was issued at 6:21 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, once the lion was located and cornered. San Francisco Fire Department spokesperson Mariano Elias provided the animal's weight and age estimates following the successful capture.
While such encounters are rare in urban areas, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tracks confirmed mountain lion attacks to help keep the public safe. According to department records, there have been 19 verified attacks on humans in California since 2000, two of which were fatal.
