A wayward mountain lion roams San Francisco’s bustling Bernal Heights neighborhood, far from the quiet green spaces it calls home.
The sightings, one from an eyewitness and another via a home security video, took place between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Tuesday. San Francisco Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Deb Campbell said puma sightings are not uncommon in the city, but research reveals many to be common house cats. Those sightings on Gaven Street and near Bernal Heights Park, however, were the real deal.
“If we hadn’t seen him in this video, we might have thought it was a large, healthy domestic cat that the eyewitness saw,” said Campbell.
I’ve just spoken to the homeowner in the Portola district who shot the mountain lion. She gave me the original video which is a little clearer than the one I posted earlier. pic.twitter.com/HBEZnwyI9A
– Andrea Nakano (@AndreaKPIX) May 19, 2021
Campbell said the mountain lion appeared large and may have been an adult. A mountain lion made it to Mission Bay a year ago, but that person was a lanky teenager.
“The lockdown is over,” joked Campbell. “Maybe he was looking for nightlife but couldn’t find one and went home.”
The home is likely to be in South Bay, particularly in the Crystal Springs area. This is likely to be a very stressful experience for the poor adventurer as mountain lions are naturally retired. This shyness can also explain why no one saw the puma cruising the city streets in daylight or at dusk.
“You’re shy, you keep to yourself,” said Campbell. “We have more mountain lion visitors than we actually experience.”
Animal Care and Control patrolled the neighborhood looking for further evidence of the furry visitor, but did not see him. Campbell says the mountain lion may have made it out of town by now, but neighbors should take sensible precautions, such as walking back and forth. B. Keeping your dogs on a leash and watching your young children. When the animal approaches, make yourself big, wave your arms, and don’t turn your back or run.
Anyone who sees the mountain lion should call the Animal Care and Control emergency number at 415-554-9400.
