Mountain Lion Captured After Roaming San Francisco Neighborhood

The 77-pound cougar was tranquilized and taken to the San Francisco Zoo for evaluation before being released back into the wild.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:39pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 77-pound mountain lion set off a scramble in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood on Tuesday as it wandered through the area before finally being captured by officials. The wild cat was first spotted on Monday morning and was eventually found hiding in a garden between two apartment buildings, where it was tranquilized three times to ensure it was unconscious before being taken to the San Francisco Zoo for examination.

Why it matters

Mountain lion sightings are rare in San Francisco, where coyotes are more commonly spotted in urban areas. This incident highlights the continued presence of large predators in and around major cities, raising awareness about wildlife management and public safety.

The details

Dozens of officials worked to capture and tranquilize the male mountain lion after it was first spotted on Monday morning. The 2-year-old cougar, which weighed 77 pounds, was tagged and had previously been spotted in Saratoga, about 50 miles south of San Francisco. After being tranquilized, the mountain lion was examined by veterinarians at the San Francisco Zoo before being placed in a cage to undergo further testing to ensure its health prior to being released back into the wild.

  • The mountain lion was first seen on Monday morning.
  • On Tuesday, the mountain lion was found hiding in a garden between two apartment buildings.

The players

Madrey Hilton

A resident who took video of the mountain lion on Monday morning and alerted authorities.

Mariano Elias

A San Francisco Fire Department lieutenant who oversaw the capture of the mountain lion.

Angela Yip

A spokesperson for San Francisco's Animal Care and Control, who stated there was no threat to the public.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It was so big … not just a regular cat.”

— Madrey Hilton (San Francisco Chronicle)

“They covered his eyes and bound its paws, just to make sure it wasn't going to run anywhere.”

— Mariano Elias, San Francisco Fire Department Lieutenant (Associated Press)

What’s next

The mountain lion will undergo further testing at the San Francisco Zoo to ensure it is healthy before being released back into the wild.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the continued presence of large predators, like mountain lions, in and around major urban areas, and the importance of wildlife management and public safety measures to address such encounters.