Watch: Mountain lion captured in San Francisco, released into the wild
SAN FRANCISCO —
A mountain lion was tranquilized and captured in San Francisco’s Sunset District on Friday, according to wildlife officials.
Video from KCRA 3 viewer Pauline Tom shows wildlife officials removing the sedated animal. Officials confirmed the mountain lion was not hurt.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the incident occurred along 44th Avenue in the Sunset District. Police blocked off roadways as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife responded. (See the capture below.)
Residents in the area had received an alert from the city about the mountain lion.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the lion was estimated to be 2 to 3 years old and to weigh 79 pounds. He was returned to wild habitat.
CDFW said the animal was given a GPS satellite collar and would be tracked by the Santa Cruz Puma Project.
“This is the second young male mountain lion CDFW has captured in San Francisco this year. Neither lion posed a public safety threat, CDFW said. “Young male mountain lions in California have an incredibly difficult challenge before them, which sometimes leads them into urban areas and requires an assist back to the wild. Young dispersing males, on their own and without their mothers to guide them, have to find a place to live where there is not already a dominant adult male in the area, which, in many cases, simply won’t tolerate another male mountain lion within its territory.”
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