A mountain lion was seen prowling in a residential area of San Francisco, prompting safety warnings for residents, with particular concern for children and pets. The sighting occurred early Monday morning on Sacramento and Gough streets, where local woman Madrey Hilton recorded a video of the animal from her car.
Hilton described the lion as 'so big… not just a regular cat' and noted it appeared to be 'minding its own business.' The lion crossed the street and entered Lafayette Park, a 12-acre park in Pacific Heights. Wildlife authorities identified the cat as a 'subadult mountain lion,' likely around a year old.
Park rangers, animal control officers, and staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife searched the park but initially found no sign of the lion. However, Animal Care & Control San Francisco announced early Tuesday that the mountain lion had been located, though they did not specify where or if it had been captured.
Residents at Lafayette Park seemed largely unperturbed, with some expressing confidence that the animal would avoid humans. Ben Lawson, playing with his 16-month-old son, said, 'It feels like it would be more scared of us.' Chris Hill, who was with his dogs, also remained unconcerned, though he preferred his pets not encounter the wild beast.
Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, with only a few dozen fatalities recorded in North America over the past 150 years. The most recent death was in Colorado in January, and a fatal attack occurred in California in March 2024. Authorities advise anyone who sees a mountain lion not to approach it, to back away without running, and to make themselves appear large if approached.
