Wildlife officials say no more sign of mountain lion seen in SF's Panhandle at Golden Gate Park
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Wildlife officials say there are no more signs of a mountain lion reportedly spotted in San Francisco's Panhandle neighborhood, bringing an unusual wildlife scare to an apparent end.
Authorities received multiple reports on Saturday of a large cat perched high in a tree near Fell and Baker streets. The sighting prompted a significant response from park rangers, police officers and California Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel, who monitored the area into the night.
Adam Cardona said he was walking his dog, Mr. Squeaks, when he spotted what he believed was a mountain lion in the tree around 8:30 p.m.
"I did see it. It was really high up," Cardona said. "I could see its tail and back legs, but it was far away. Rangers had the area blocked off."
MORE: What to do if you come face-to-face with a mountain lion
While Cardona did not take any photos, wildlife officials say they received multiple credible reports.
"We received two very credible reports of the mountain lion in a tree," said Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
A Recreation and Parks Department officer confirmed the mountain lion was in the tree shortly after the initial sighting, leading to an alert for residents in the area to be on the lookout.
Officials sent alerts to nearby residents, warning them to remain aware of the situation as crews searched the area.
"I stayed inside," said San Francisco resident Brenda Ferguson. "This morning, I looked on my porch to make sure it wasn't there, because I needed to go to church."
The reported sighting quickly became the talk of the neighborhood, with residents gathering to see whether the elusive animal would reappear.
"I swear I heard someone say, 'I spotted him!' and then nothing," said resident Jane Zimmerman.
Despite monitoring the area through the night, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers were unable to locate the animal.
"We checked again this morning and found no sign of a lion," Tira said. "It appears the animal returned to a more natural habitat, which is really the best-case scenario."
Officials say the lack of evidence does not necessarily mean the mountain lion was never there.
"It doesn't mean it wasn't there," Tira added. "Mountain lions are elusive animals."
The incident is not the first mountain lion sighting to capture attention in San Francisco. In January, a mountain lion that was spotted near Lafayette Park, and later in Pacific Heights, was eventually captured and relocated by wildlife officials.
MORE: Officials capture mountain lion that's been prowling SF's Pac Heights neighborhood
The latest report also comes just days after a South Bay hiker said she was followed by a mountain lion while hiking in Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve.
For now, wildlife officials say there is no ongoing threat to the public and no confirmed mountain lion presence in the Panhandle area.
The mountain lion was believed to have left the area sometime overnight via a nature corridor and was no longer in the city, the City Administrator's Office said.
The big cat did not display signs of aggression.
Residents are encouraged to remain aware of their surroundings and report any wildlife sightings to authorities.
Anyone who sees a mountain lion in the city was asked to report it to San Francisco Animal Care and Control at (415) 554-9400.
Bay City News contributed to this report
