Wayward San Francisco mountain lion captured after being present in tree
A mountain lion was caught Wednesday night in San Francisco and is in the care of the Oakland Zoo.
California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife said data collected from the puma’s radio collar showed it was the same animal sighted on the streets of the city for the past two days.
The mountain lion was found in a tree on Santa Marina and Mission streets on the west side of Bernal Heights, about two blocks from Holly Park, according to San Francisco Animal Care and Control.
A wayward mountain lion spotted in a tree on Santa Marina Street near Mission Street in San Francisco was captured on May 19, 2021.
Ken Regal
Animal Care and Control was there first and posted a picture of the animal in the tree on social media. Captain Amy Corso has coordinated with the San Francisco Police to establish a secure perimeter.
Fish and Wildlife officials came next and shot the animal in the hindquarters with a sedative.
Mountain lion safely removed. @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/TmOXSQcmbk
– Jean Elle (@nbcjeanelle) May 20, 2021
KCBS reported that the lion was dazed and fell asleep on the porch of a nearby house before officers tagged and imprisoned him.
San Francisco-based Ken Shelf was out walking with his wife in the neighborhood when he noticed the Animal Care and Control van and police cars.
“We stopped and asked them jokingly if they were looking for the lion and they told us he was currently in the tree,” said Shelf, who took the photo of the cougar in the tree that was shared by the agency social media. “I was scared but also a little dizzy when the worlds collided this way, such a beautiful animal that lives in the wild and roams the city at night, looking for something to do and possibly a bite to eat – just like the rest of us. “
A mountain lion was caught in San Francisco on May 19, 2021.
Quinn Klaiman
“The sedated lion was taken to the Oakland Zoo for examination and will likely be released later in a more convenient location,” said Deb Campbell, a spokeswoman for Animal Care and Control.
The Oakland Zoo added in a statement that the mountain lion is a large, healthy male of around 100 pounds. The animal was picked up by staff at Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital around 1 a.m. on Thursday.
A mountain lion has been sighted in Bernal Heights and the Portola District in the past two days. Earlier this week, a resident of the Portola district took pictures of the animal with a home surveillance camera.
Pumas in search of new habitat and hunting ground occasionally migrate from San Mateo County to San Francisco. There have been occasional sightings over the years, usually around Lake Merced, but the animals usually quickly realize they don’t want to be in town and return south.
A young puma was caught in the neighborhood of SoMa in June last year.
Fish and Wildlife estimates that 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions live in California.
