A Mountain Lion Captured in San Francisco's Pac Heights Neighborhood After Widespread Sightings
Residents of San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood were left on edge after a 2-year-old, 77-pound mountain lion was spotted roaming the streets. The big cat had been seen several times over the past few days and had locals on high alert.
Crews from Animal Care & Control and Fish & Wildlife were deployed to California and Octavia Street where they cornered the animal near an apartment building. "They're going to prepare to tranquilize the animal, and it's more likely than not that it will come out of its hiding spot," said San Francisco Supervisor Stephen Sherrill.
The young mountain lion was eventually sedated with multiple darts before being taken away safely by firefighters and wildlife officials. The release location has yet to be disclosed but is believed to be somewhere in the region, outside areas with a high concentration of male mountain lions.
Residents witnessed the scene from their apartments and balconies as crews worked for hours to remove the animal. Neighbors expressed relief that the situation was resolved without incident, saying they were "a little worried" about the safety of both humans and animals.
Fish & Wildlife officials explained that mountain lions generally avoid humans but can end up in urban areas and become trapped. Males, particularly, disperse from their mothers to establish their own territory. They noted that the capture was a successful operation and that the animal was healthy enough to be released back into the wild without added stress.
This latest sighting in San Francisco is reminiscent of an incident in 2020 when a large cat was on the loose around the city for several days, even prowling near a major news building. The big cat was eventually captured near Oracle Park but met a tragic end shortly after being re-released into a wildlife preserve due to being hit by a car.
This brings a welcome relief to San Francisco's residents who have had close encounters with wild animals in recent years and has reinforced the importance of community vigilance in monitoring animal activity.
Residents of San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood were left on edge after a 2-year-old, 77-pound mountain lion was spotted roaming the streets. The big cat had been seen several times over the past few days and had locals on high alert.
Crews from Animal Care & Control and Fish & Wildlife were deployed to California and Octavia Street where they cornered the animal near an apartment building. "They're going to prepare to tranquilize the animal, and it's more likely than not that it will come out of its hiding spot," said San Francisco Supervisor Stephen Sherrill.
The young mountain lion was eventually sedated with multiple darts before being taken away safely by firefighters and wildlife officials. The release location has yet to be disclosed but is believed to be somewhere in the region, outside areas with a high concentration of male mountain lions.
Residents witnessed the scene from their apartments and balconies as crews worked for hours to remove the animal. Neighbors expressed relief that the situation was resolved without incident, saying they were "a little worried" about the safety of both humans and animals.
Fish & Wildlife officials explained that mountain lions generally avoid humans but can end up in urban areas and become trapped. Males, particularly, disperse from their mothers to establish their own territory. They noted that the capture was a successful operation and that the animal was healthy enough to be released back into the wild without added stress.
This latest sighting in San Francisco is reminiscent of an incident in 2020 when a large cat was on the loose around the city for several days, even prowling near a major news building. The big cat was eventually captured near Oracle Park but met a tragic end shortly after being re-released into a wildlife preserve due to being hit by a car.
This brings a welcome relief to San Francisco's residents who have had close encounters with wild animals in recent years and has reinforced the importance of community vigilance in monitoring animal activity.
! San Francisco residents are lucky to have a safe release location for this big cat, but think about all the other animals that get trapped in urban areas. It's like they're just waiting to happen 
. I heard there were multiple sightings over the past few days, so it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong 
. At least the animal was sedated and taken away safely, but what about all the other animals that aren't as lucky? 
They just keep showing up in our neighborhoods like they own the place! I mean, I get it, they're majestic and all that, but can't they just stay out of city limits? I was literally on edge when I saw that big cat roaming around Pac Heights... my heart was racing and I just wanted to grab my kids and get them to safety 
. Thankfully the team from Animal Care & Control were able to catch it without anyone getting hurt, but still, it's just not right 
. We should be worried about our neighbors and community members being harmed, not some wild animal taking over our streets!
, that mountain lion could've caused some serious harm if it got aggressive. But I gotta say, it's kinda crazy that it ended up in Pac Heights in the first place... like what were the chances? 
I mean, we're used to seeing tech bros and rich folks living there, not wild animals roaming around 
. Seriously though, kudos to the Animal Care & Control crew for handling the situation so professionally 
. It's just another reminder that even in urban areas, wildlife can show up unexpectedly. We need more resources to deal with these kinds of situations, like wildlife corridors and safe habitats for animals to roam freely. That way, we avoid having to capture and relocate them instead of coexisting peacefully 
. The fact that the situation was resolved without incident, with minimal human and animal disruption, highlights the effectiveness of community-based conservation efforts 
. As males disperse from their mothers to establish territories, they may increasingly venture into human-dominated landscapes, potentially leading to conflicts between humans and wildlife 
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. Therefore, it's essential to continue prioritizing the development of humane and sustainable wildlife management strategies that balance human safety with the needs of these incredible animals 
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I mean, I'm just glad that poor little mountain lion was caught safe and sound 
And to think they thought it'd be a walk in the park (pun intended) for them, tranquilizing that thing like it was some kinda animal control day out 
anyway, i think it's dope that the crew was able 2 sedate & release the lil guy safely 
it's all about community vigilance & lookin out for each other's safety, imo 
but let's not forget that mountain lions are wild animals & deserve our respect, too 
. Now let's hope whoever took care of it is doing okay and releasing it into a nice spot where it can live its best life 
. And btw, I'm kinda curious - what makes this area so attractive for wildlife? Is it like food or shelter or something? 
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I'm so glad they were able to catch that mountain lion without anyone getting hurt 
. It's crazy how wildlife can end up in urban areas, right? Like, who expects to see a 77-pound cat roaming around their neighborhood?! 
so first off its crazy how that thing was roaming around pac heights for 2 days straight lol like who lets a wild animal just roam free in their neighborhood? and then they finally corner it after hours of crews setting up traps I swear its like something out of a movie
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anywayz, glad they were able to catch it without any major incidents happening. wildlife ppl did their thang & released it back into the wild, no harm done 