Officers Sedate, Capture Mountain Lion That Wandered Into Sacramento

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Officers sedated and captured a mountain lion that wandered deep into the heart of the city late Saturday night.

The Sacramento Police Department tweeted just before 11 p.m. that a mountain lion had been spotted near 32nd and X Streets. Police officers, as well as a Fish and Game warden, were immediately called to the scene.

About a half hour later, police announced that the cougar had been found and tranquilized. Officers had to wait for the tranquilizer to kick in before moving in and capturing the big cat.

Within minutes, the mountain lion was down and in custody.

The capture comes almost a day after a mountain lion was spotted by at least two East Sacramento residents and a police officer. The spot where the cougar was caught late Saturday night was less than a mile from where a Sacramento Police Department lieutenant last saw a mountain lion around 4 a.m. Saturday.

The early Saturday morning sightings prompted police to issue a text alert to nearly 500 East Sacramento homes, warning residents to be on the lookout for the mountain lion.

Police note that no officers or members of the community were hurt in the incident.

According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the mountain lion was later released back into the wild.

In:
• Sacramento Police Department
• Mountain Lion