SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco city officials have tranquilized a mountain lion seen roaming through the Pacific Heights neighborhood starting Monday night, according to reports. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will soon release the mountain lion, whom fire officials say is about two years old and 77 pounds, into a “suitable natural environment,” according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

After a long search Monday, officials said they found the mountain lion early Tuesday morning in a courtyard between two apartment buildings on California Street. This marks the first confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in the city of San Francisco since 2021, according to The Chronicle.

A portion of California Street was shut down Tuesday morning as police, the game warden, and animal control all worked to tranquilize and move the animal somewhere safe, according to reports.

Tuesday morning, officials from the police department, fire department, Fish & Wildlife, Animal Control, and the San Francisco Zoo were still in the process of trying to capture the lion using a cage and a tranquilizer gun, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. By 11 a.m., the lion was loaded onto a van.

Mountain Lion contained to Lafayette Park area near California St. SFPD, SFFD, Fish & Wildlife, SF Animal Care & Control, SF Zoo on scene. pic.twitter.com/aUcKR81Q9v
— SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) January 27, 2026

The lion was first reported Monday at around 6 a.m. in the area around Lafayette Park and spotted in multiple locations, according to the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. Lafayette Park was temporarily closed Monday afternoon as park rangers and wildlife officials searched for the lion, according to KRON4. The park has reopened as of Tuesday morning.

Animal Care & Control San Francisco said online that experts believe that the mountain lion is about a year old, and likely got lost while dispersing or is confused.

Residents posted videos of the mountain lion, which was freely roaming city streets. One resident noted on Nextdoor that she saw the lion scale a wall and head into Lafayette Park Monday at around 6 a.m. Another video posted to Reddit shows the mountain lion standing on apartment steps, staring down the person filming. Both posters noted that the lion was at least 100 pounds.

MOUNTAIN LION IN SF! Sharing from a friend. Poor thing is roaming around Cow Hollow and Pacific Heights tonight. Authorities have been notified and hopefully she’ll be helped off the streets soon. Wild. Literally. pic.twitter.com/7jfGICFPV8
— Erica Sandberg 舊金山的神奇女俠 (@EricaJSandberg) January 27, 2026

Animal control advised anyone who encounters a mountain lion to give it a wide berth, and slowly back away, but do not run. Keep any dogs on leashes and pick children up. If the mountain lion approaches, make yourself big by waving your arms and shouting, but do not run. When it is safe, call your local animal control.

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