A dog walker in the middle of San Francisco got the surprise of a lifetime Saturday night after looking up and spotting a mountain lion perched in a tree in the Panhandle, the narrow strip of green connecting Golden Gate Park to the heart of the city.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a park ranger confirmed the sighting near Fell and Baker streets around 8:30 p.m., and by 9:10 p.m. an emergency alert was buzzing phones across the neighborhood. Police closed Fell Street between Broderick and Central while officers, park rangers, wildlife wardens and emergency crews converged on the area, even sending up a drone to scan the treetops.
Animal Care and Control officials said the lion showed no aggression, only defensive behavior while climbing, and by Sunday morning it had slipped away on its own. The alert was lifted, no injuries were reported, and officials believe the animal is headed back toward wilder habitat.
It marks the second mountain lion to wander into San Francisco this year. In January, a young lion turned up in Lafayette Park and Pacific Heights before being tranquilized and relocated. With an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions roaming California, these urban cameos keep happening.
Anyone who spots the cat can call San Francisco Animal Care and Control at (415) 554-9400. Officials offer the usual advice for close encounters: stand tall, make noise and never run.