A mountain lion found lying underneath a car in a busy residential area of Escondido was tranquilized Monday.
California Department Fish and Wildlife officials responded to a mountain lion sighting near the intersection of Mission Avenue and Grape Street around 1:30 p.m.
“Due to the busy urban setting and a growing crowd of onlookers, environmental scientists made the call to safely immobilize and relocate the animal,” CDFW said.
The mountain lion ran to a nearby apartment complex after it was hit with the first tranquilizer dart. Authorities closely monitored the big cat and decided to hit it with a second dart before wildlife officials moved in.
A mountain lion was tranquilized after it was found in a busy area of Escondido, Calif. on May 4, 2026. (CDFW)
A mountain lion was tranquilized after it was found in a busy area of Escondido, Calif. on May 4, 2026. (CDFW)
A mountain lion was tranquilized after it was found in a busy area of Escondido, Calif. on May 4, 2026. (CDFW)
A mountain lion was tranquilized after it was found in a busy area of Escondido, Calif. on May 4, 2026. (CDFW)
A mountain lion was tranquilized after it was found in a busy area of Escondido, Calif. on May 4, 2026. (CDFW)
A mountain lion was tranquilized after it was found in a busy area of Escondido, Calif. on May 4, 2026. (CDFW)
A mountain lion was tranquilized after it was found in a busy area of Escondido, Calif. on May 4, 2026. (CDFW)
The mountain lion was deemed to be in excellent health, the CDFW said. It was well-fed, had a clean coat and did not have any visible injuries.
Officials fitted the mountain lion with a tracking collar to monitor its future movements. When the cat was fully awake around 11 p.m., it was safely released back into the wild near the Cleveland National Forest. The animal was last seen resting near a tree.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.