Mountain Lion Leaves Its San Francisco Tree Without Explaining Anything

A mountain lion that spent part of Saturday evening in a tree near San Francisco’s Panhandle appears to have left the city without requesting a parking permit, issuing a statement or acknowledging the large group of humans monitoring its personal business.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a dog walker spotted the animal near Fell and Baker streets. Police, park personnel and wildlife officials responded, cordoned off the area and asked people to keep their distance.

The cat chose the sensible option

Officials said the mountain lion showed no aggression. A park ranger saw it in the tree at about 8:30 p.m., where dense foliage made observation difficult. Authorities later used lights and thermal-imaging drones but found no heat signature, leading Animal Care and Control to conclude that the cat had climbed down and moved on.

Nobody actually watched the departure. This means the mountain lion executed the kind of clean social exit most adults attempt at parties: disappear quietly while everyone is looking somewhere else and let them debate whether you are still in the bathroom.

Wildlife does pass through the city

Animal Care and Control said mountain lions sometimes travel through San Francisco and usually find their way back toward more suitable habitat. This was the city’s second reported mountain-lion incident of the year, following the January capture and release of another cat identified as 157M.

Officials advised residents to avoid approaching a mountain lion, keep pets close and give the animal a clear escape route. People should not run from a lion; wildlife agencies generally recommend facing it, appearing larger and backing away slowly. Local guidance should be followed if another sighting occurs.

By Sunday morning, the Panhandle was quiet and no additional sightings had been reported. The operation ended with the best outcome available: no injuries, no forced encounter and one large cat apparently deciding the urban lifestyle lacked adequate privacy.

San Francisco has now returned to its regular collection of unusual street sightings, most of which are significantly less interested in eating a deer.