Mountain lion wanders through posh San Francisco neighbourhood
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 28: A 77-pound mountain lion caused alarm and fascination after wandering through San Francisco’s affluent Pacific Heights neighborhood before being safely captured on Tuesday.
The male cougar was first spotted early Monday morning, prompting authorities to issue public warnings advising residents to slowly back away if they encountered the animal.
Dozens of officials were involved in tracking, tranquilizing, and securing the big cat as residents watched from windows and sidewalks.
One resident, Roxanne Blank, encountered the mountain lion around 3 a.m. Monday outside her apartment. Initially mistaking it for a dog, she realized it was a mountain lion after noticing its tail and face.
Blank calmly recorded the animal on her phone as the two locked eyes for several minutes. The cat eventually fled when her dog barked from inside the apartment, after which she called emergency services.
Another resident, Madrey Hilton, later filmed the animal and alerted authorities.
The mountain lion was eventually found hiding in a garden between two apartment buildings on Tuesday, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.
Officials tranquilized the animal with three darts to ensure it was fully unconscious, covered its eyes, and restrained its paws to prevent escape.
Veterinarians from the San Francisco Zoo examined the cougar before placing it in a cage. Authorities said the animal will undergo further health checks before being released back into the wild.
The 2-year-old male had previously been tagged and was last seen in Saratoga, about 50 miles south of San Francisco.
Experts say mountain lions sometimes travel north along the Pacific coast from surrounding hills but typically return to wilderness areas. Sightings in San Francisco are rare, though coyotes are common.
Officials reassured the public there was no threat. Residents reacted with curiosity rather than fear, with some even continuing outdoor activities.
Wildlife experts noted that large cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles occasionally see mountain lions navigating urban spaces, where they have learned to survive alongside human development. (AP)
