Young mountain lion captured in SF’s Outer Sunset released into Santa Cruz Mountains

LATEST Sept. 18, 2:30 p.m. The mountain lion captured Friday morning after wandering the streets of San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood has been released into wild habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

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Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira confirmed to SFGATE by phone that the mountain lion is a young male from 2 to 3 years old and weighs about 78 pounds. San Francisco Zoo staff tranquilized the mountain lion before giving him a brief health assessment at the scene, while researchers with the Santa Cruz Puma Project fitted him with a satellite GPS tracking collar. 

“He will become part of their scientific study,” Tira said. The project, a collaboration between the department and UC Santa Cruz, tracks mountain lion movements and behavior in the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region.

Tira said the animal was a dispersing lion, meaning he had recently left his mother and was searching for territory of his own. 

“It’s always a challenge, particularly for a young mountain lion, a male mountain lion especially,” Tira said. “They’re out on their own for the first time and they kind of have to find their way in the world.” 

Male mountain lions can occupy territories spanning roughly 50 square miles, Tira said, and established males generally will not tolerate another male entering their range. 

“It’s a real challenge for a young male mountain lion to find a place to live on its own where there’s not already a dominant male,” he said. 

Young lions occasionally wander into urban areas while searching for territory and can become trapped without a clear route back to open habitat. These animals occasionally enter the city from the San Mateo Peninsula, Tira noted, where there is an established mountain lion population. 

“This was never a public safety concern or public safety threat of any kind,” Tira said. “This was simply a wayward young lion who got stuck in the Outer Sunset.”

This is the second young mountain lion this year that wildlife officials have returned to wild habitat. The first ventured into San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood and fell asleep between two apartment buildings before officials tranquilized and captured him after an hourslong response. 

Sept. 18, 1:10 p.m.After roaming San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood, a mountain lion was tranquilized and has been fitted with a satellite tracking collar, California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira told SFGATE. The animal is expected to be returned to the wild.

San Francisco police said officers were dispatched around 7:42 a.m. on Friday to the 2500 block of 44th Avenue after receiving reports of a possible mountain lion. Officers located the animal near 44th Avenue and Ulloa Street and kept it in sight while waiting for other agencies to arrive. Police told nearby residents to shelter in place while officials handled the animal. The advisory has since been lifted.

Tira said that CDFW wildlife officers and biologists responded alongside San Francisco police and staff from the San Francisco Zoo. After the animal was caught, researchers with the Santa Cruz Puma Project outfitted the lion with the collar so that its movements and behavior can be tracked going forward. 

“The plan, as what usually happens in these things, is to return that mountain lion to its wild habitat,” Tira said. “It will become part of the Puma Project’s research efforts as they track its movements and behavior and patterns in the wild.”

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Sept. 18, 11:30 a.m.California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials tranquilized the mountain lion spotted in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset, an SFPD officer at the scene confirmed to SFGATE.

The animal was found on the 2500 block of 44th Avenue, between Ulloa and Vicente streets.

State game wardens have since taken the mountain lion into their care, according to a Nixle alert. “The incident has been resolved, there is no danger to the public,” the alert said.

Sept. 18, 10:25 a.m.City and state officials have located a mountain lion that was spotted prowling the streets of San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood Friday morning.

San Francisco Animal Care and Control spokesperson Deb Campbell told SFGATE by phone Friday that city and state agencies, including Animal Care and Control, San Francisco police and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, were responding and working to safely relocate the animal.

Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a social media post that the mountain lion had been located near 44th Avenue and Vicente and Ulloa streets. 

“We want everybody to be aware, especially out in that neighborhood,” Lurie said in a video. “We have eyes on this mountain lion, so just avoid the area, and we will keep you posted.”

Sept. 18, 9:06 a.m.A mountain lion was spotted in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset on Friday morning, according to city officials. 

Animal control officers have responded to 44th Avenue and Ulloa Street after receiving reports of a mountain lion nearby, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management said.

The office urged anyone who sees the mountain lion to slowly back away and keep their distance. People with children should pick them up, and dogs should remain on a leash. If the animal approaches, officials advised people to make themselves appear larger, wave their arms, shout and throw an object if necessary.

A mountain lion was spotted earlier this month in the Panhandle area near Golden Gate Park; it’s not known whether the sightings were of the same animal.

Residents can report sightings to SF Animal Care and Control at 415-554-9400. Officials said to call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.