Additional Coverage:
- Mountain lion caught on camera evading capture in San Francisco before being tranquilized, released (foxnews.com)
A mountain lion sparked quite a stir in San Francisco on Friday after being spotted in the bustling Sunset District, the city’s largest neighborhood. The big cat managed to elude capture for several hours before officials finally contained the situation.
A coordinated effort involving the San Francisco Police Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, animal control, and experts from the San Francisco Zoo surrounded the mountain lion in the Outer Sunset area. The animal was eventually tranquilized safely and later released back into its natural habitat.
Animal Care & Control shared videos showing the mountain lion emerging from its crate and heading back into a wooded area, now fitted with a collar it didn’t have before. On social media, they expressed gratitude for the teamwork that made the safe capture possible.
“We’re happy to report that our mountain lion visitor has been released back to the wild by our friends at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife,” the organization said. They also thanked the San Francisco Zoo for their expertise in darting the animal, the police for their support, the Santa Cruz Puma Project, and their dedicated Animal Control Officers who handle these challenging situations every day.
Earlier this month, a mountain lion was also spotted in the city’s Panhandle neighborhood but returned to the woods on its own. It remains unclear if the two sightings involved the same animal. This recent event highlights the ongoing presence of wildlife in urban areas and the efforts required to manage these encounters safely.