Officials from San Francisco Animal Control and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tranquilized a mountain lion Tuesday that was seen roaming around the city. Residents in the city’s Pacific Heights neighborhood first spotted the animal Monday afternoon around Lafayette Park. Officials were able to corner the animal in a grassy area between two apartment complexes. They shot three darts to tranquilize the animal and later transported it out of the area for treatment. “What I’ve been told by the Department of Fish and Wildlife is this is normal for a male to leave his mother and go claim his own territory,” said Mariano Elias, with the San Francisco Fire Department. “Unfortunately, sometimes it does happen in and around city life, and that is where we are today.”The animal had already been tagged by a group called the Puma Project. They determined the male mountain lion to be around 2 years old, and they tagged him all the way down in Saratoga. Officials said they will eventually release the animal back into the wild after treatment. They did not specify where, but said it would be a natural habitat. “We had a biologist who was in charge of the whole operation, so it worked out well seamlessly,” Elias said. “Clogged a little bit of traffic at one point, but in the end it was for everyone’s safety.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SAN FRANCISCO —

Officials from San Francisco Animal Control and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tranquilized a mountain lion Tuesday that was seen roaming around the city.

Residents in the city’s Pacific Heights neighborhood first spotted the animal Monday afternoon around Lafayette Park.

Officials were able to corner the animal in a grassy area between two apartment complexes. They shot three darts to tranquilize the animal and later transported it out of the area for treatment.

“What I’ve been told by the Department of Fish and Wildlife is this is normal for a male to leave his mother and go claim his own territory,” said Mariano Elias, with the San Francisco Fire Department. “Unfortunately, sometimes it does happen in and around city life, and that is where we are today.”

The animal had already been tagged by a group called the Puma Project. They determined the male mountain lion to be around 2 years old, and they tagged him all the way down in Saratoga.

Officials said they will eventually release the animal back into the wild after treatment. They did not specify where, but said it would be a natural habitat.

“We had a biologist who was in charge of the whole operation, so it worked out well seamlessly,” Elias said. “Clogged a little bit of traffic at one point, but in the end it was for everyone’s safety.”

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel