Mountain Lion Captured in San Francisco Neighborhood Released in Santa Cruz Mountains

The male mountain lion, estimated to be around 2 years old, was fitted with a GPS tracking collar as part of a wildlife study.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 1:47pm by Ben Kaplan

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A mountain lion that was spotted and captured in a busy San Francisco neighborhood has been released back into the wild in the Santa Cruz Mountains, according to state wildlife officials. The 77-pound male mountain lion, estimated to be around 2 years old, was evaluated by biologists and then fitted with a GPS tracking collar as part of the UC Santa Cruz Puma Project before being released into a "suitable" habitat.

Why it matters

Mountain lion sightings in urban areas of the San Francisco Bay Area have become more common in recent years as development encroaches on their natural habitats. This incident highlights the challenges wildlife officials face in managing encounters between mountain lions and residents, as well as the importance of research projects that track the movements and behaviors of these large predators.

The details

On Monday, San Francisco Animal Care and Control warned residents about the mountain lion after it was spotted near Lafayette Park in the city's Pacific Heights neighborhood. The animal was later located and tranquilized between two homes near California and Octavia streets on Tuesday morning. Biologists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife evaluated the mountain lion and determined it was a 77-pound male estimated to be around 2 years old.

  • The mountain lion was first spotted in the Pacific Heights neighborhood on Monday night.
  • On Tuesday morning, animal control officials located and tranquilized the mountain lion between two homes.
  • On Wednesday, the mountain lion was released into the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The players

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

The state agency responsible for managing and protecting California's wildlife, including mountain lions.

UC Santa Cruz Puma Project

A research project that tracks the movements and behaviors of mountain lions (also known as pumas or cougars) in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Richie King

A wildlife biologist with the UC Santa Cruz Puma Project who was part of the team that originally tagged the mountain lion when it was around 5 weeks old.

Madrey Hilton

A San Francisco resident who recorded a video of the mountain lion in the Pacific Heights neighborhood.

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What they’re saying

“It was super big too, so I knew it wasn't like just a stray cat or anything, and it kind of walked up the road, like towards like where my car is. And so immediately I got out my phone to record because I wanted to send a video to my friends.”

— Madrey Hilton (CBS News Bay Area)

“For the most part, he's being pushed around by other males who have these home ranges that aren't letting him go in there. Really, he doesn't have much of a choice about where he's going and he just happens to end up in these bad situations.”

— Richie King, Wildlife Biologist, UC Santa Cruz Puma Project (CBS News Bay Area)

What’s next

The mountain lion will be monitored through the GPS tracking collar as part of the UC Santa Cruz Puma Project's ongoing research.

The takeaway

As development continues to encroach on mountain lion habitats in the San Francisco Bay Area, incidents like this highlight the need for effective wildlife management strategies and public education to ensure the safety of both humans and these large predators.