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A young mountain lion was spotted in San Francisco’s Lafayette Park and Pacific Heights neighborhood Monday, causing the City of San Francisco to issue a warning to residents. On Tuesday, it was captured at Octavia and California Streets.
At around 6:20am Tuesday morning, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management issued an update that the animal was located and Animal Care & Control and the U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife were on the scene. Officials tranquilized the animal around 10:30am and managed to capture it safely.
“The mountain lion – a year-old male – was tranquilized by a biologist from the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and SF Zoo Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Adrian Mutlow after an hours-long standoff,” wrote San Francisco Animal Care & Control on Instagram. “The lion will be released to more suitable habitat.”
According to the Instagram post, the mountain lion was captured after a coordinated effort between SF Animal Care & Control, the SF Police Department, the San Francisco Zoo, and the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, with help from the Puma Project.
The mountain lion was first spotted around 6am Monday morning by SF resident Madrey Hilton on Sacramento and Gough Streets.
San Franciscans posted videos and photos of the mountain lion roaming around residential areas, and SF Rec & Parks briefly closed Lafayette Park on Monday as a precaution as officials swept the area.
“If you see the mountain lion – do not go near it,” wrote SF Animal Care & Control. “Give it a wide berth, slowly back away – do not run – and call Animal Care & Control at 415-554-9400.”
“If you have a child with you – pick them up – and keep dogs on leash. If the mountain lion approaches – make yourself ‘big’ wave your arms, shout, throw something, and again, do not run.”