San Francisco officials confirmed that a mountain lion was spotted in the busy Outer Sunset neighborhood on Friday and evaded capture for several hours. The animal, wearing a new tracking collar, prompted a coordinated response from the San Francisco Police Department, the city’s Animal Care & Control division, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the San Francisco Zoo.
Coordinated response
When the cougar was first reported, officers quickly secured the surrounding streets and set up a perimeter to protect residents and motorists. Animal Care & Control officers worked alongside CDFW wildlife specialists, who brought tranquilizer equipment and expertise in safely handling large predators.
After locating the lion in a residential area, the team used a dart gun to administer a sedative. The animal was then placed in a transport crate and taken to a nearby holding area where it could recover before being released.
Release back to the wild
Later that day, the tranquilized lion was released back into a wooded area on the city’s western edge. Animal Care & Control posted video footage of the cougar exiting its crate and disappearing into the trees, confirming the animal’s safe return to its natural habitat.
“We’re happy to report that our mountain lion visitor has been released back to the wild by our friends at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife,” the agency wrote on its Facebook page. The post thanked the San Francisco Zoo for its expertise in darting the animal, the police department for its support, and the Santa Cruz Puma Project for its collaboration.
Community safety and wildlife monitoring
San Francisco’s animal‑control officers emphasized that the swift, multi‑agency effort helped protect both the public and the animal. The new collar on the lion will allow wildlife officials to monitor its movements and ensure it stays away from densely populated areas.
Earlier this month, a separate sighting of a cougar in the city’s Panhandle neighborhood was reported, but that animal returned to the woods on its own. It remains unclear whether the Friday incident involved the same individual.
What residents can do
Officials reminded residents to keep pets indoors or supervised, avoid leaving food outdoors, and report any wildlife sightings promptly. By working together, the city aims to maintain a balance between preserving local wildlife and ensuring neighborhood safety.
For updates on wildlife activity and safety tips, San Francisco Animal Care & Control encourages the public to follow its social‑media channels.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
