Wildlife Crews Sedate Mountain Lion In San Mateo

SAN MATEO (CBS SF) -- A mountain lion spotted in the backyard of a home in San Mateo Monday morning led to state Department of Fish and Wildlife cornering and sedating the animal by early afternoon, authorities said.

The sighting was first reported at about 9:35 a.m. in the backyard of a home in the 500 block of Virginia Avenue. Witnesses reported that the animal did not act in a predatory or aggressive manner, but officers asked people to keep children and pets indoors as a precaution.

Shortly after 11 a.m., officers confirmed they located the mountain lion on Alameda de las Pulgas between Crystal Springs Road and Georgetown Avenue, police said.

"There were several moments that lives were in danger of our first responders and Fish and Game," said San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer.

Several blocks near Alameda de las Pulgas and Virginia Avenue were closed as police set up a moving perimeter trying to corner the animal.

"The cat moved to several different houses. As the officers were making a perimeter, the cat would be on the move, you didn't know where it was going to go," said San Mateo Police Sgt. Jen Marvillas. "It would jump a couple fences and we would relocate our perimeter."

At about 11:50 a.m., Fish and Wildlife crews arrived to help with the situation. At 1 p.m., police said they were still working with crews.

At around 1:30 p.m., Fish and Wildlife officials were able to shoot the mountain lion with a dart and load it into a truck uninjured.

"They are starting to venture into these areas more often," said area resident Tim Grant.

Grant is one of dozens of people told to shelter in place and protect their pets while police herded the wild cat.

This was the second successful experience San Mateo Police have had with Fish and Wildlife tranquilizing a mountain lion in this neighborhood. Before it's released they'll put a tracker on it in partnership with the Santa Cruz Puma Project.

The project allows for further study of the animals. It currently has around 60 of the big cats tagged in the region.

"They're getting used to living in areas where they're urbanized. People don't scare them as much as they used to," said Grant. "They're breeding populations are getting bigger so they're looking for more range to roam in."

Authorities will be releasing the sedated cat loose in the wild later Monday.

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