Mountain Lion Captured in Posh San Francisco Neighborhood

The 77-pound cougar wandered through Pacific Heights before being tranquilized and taken to the San Francisco Zoo

Jan. 27, 2026 at 5:55pm by Ben Kaplan

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A 77-pound mountain lion set off a scramble in San Francisco's wealthy Pacific Heights neighborhood on Tuesday as it wandered through the area, prompting dozens of officials to work to capture and tranquilize the male cat. The wild cat was first spotted on Monday morning and was eventually found hiding in a garden between two apartment buildings, where it was shot with tranquilizers three times to ensure it was unconscious before being examined by veterinarians and placed in a cage to be released back into the wild.

Why it matters

Mountain lion sightings are rare in San Francisco, where coyotes are more commonly seen in urban areas. However, experts say the animals do sometimes come up along the Pacific coast from the hills south of the city, though they eventually find their way back to the wilderness. This incident highlights the potential for wildlife encounters even in densely populated areas and the need for proper protocols to safely capture and relocate wild animals.

The details

The mountain lion, a 2-year-old male cougar that had been previously tagged in Saratoga about 50 miles south of San Francisco, was first spotted by Madrey Hilton on Monday morning. Hilton alerted authorities after seeing the large cat, which she described as "so big... not just a regular cat." The lion then scaled a wall and headed into Lafayette Park. On Tuesday, the animal was found hiding in a garden between two apartment buildings, where San Francisco Fire Department Lt. Mariano Elias said authorities shot it with tranquilizers three times "to make sure it was completely unconscious" before covering its eyes, binding its paws, and placing it in a cage to be examined by veterinarians from the San Francisco Zoo.

  • The mountain lion was first seen on Monday morning.
  • The animal was captured on Tuesday.

The players

Madrey Hilton

A resident who spotted 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.

San Francisco Zoo

The zoo's veterinarians examined the mountain lion after it was captured.

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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 (wral.com)

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 that even in densely populated urban areas like San Francisco, encounters with wildlife can still occur. Proper protocols and coordination between authorities and wildlife experts are crucial to safely capture and relocate wild animals that wander into residential neighborhoods.