SAN FRANCISCO – On January 27, 2026, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers, with a whole lot of assistance from local agencies, successfully removed a male mountain lion from San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood.
The mountain lion was first spotted on January 26th by residents. According to San Francisco Animal Care and Control, two animal control officers were patrolling the neighborhood overnight and spotted the mountain lion between two buildings. The officers kept eyes on the mountain lion while San Francisco Police officers arrived to secure the scene.
CDFW officers were called as well as a team from the San Francisco Zoo and the San Francisco Fire Department. CDFW officers eventually tranquilized the cat and removed him from the neighborhood. The mountain lion will be released into a more suitable habitat, according to SF Animal Care and Control.
“This is a great outcome for the Pacific Heights neighborhood and the mountain lion,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “We appreciate the efforts of all involved to protect the health and safety of citizens and the mountain lion itself. We are very proud of the CDFW officers that our association represents and thank all CDFW officers who responded to this call, for their valued assistance.”
Video of the mountain lion and his removal from the neighborhood can be seen on SF Animal Care and Control social media accounts – https://www.facebook.com/reel/1254003733295132
