A mountain lion was found roaming the busy parking lot of a California suburb on Monday, despite being miles away from any green space.
The big cat was first reported around 3.45pm on Monday after it was spotted by a landscaper in Pleasanton, just outside of San Francisco.
The creature hid out in a series of bushes in the parking lot of a busy office complex for the entire day and did not show any signs of aggression, but raised alarm at nearby super markets and schools in the area.
On Monday a young mountain lion dubbed the #PleasantonPuma was found wandering a busy parking lot in Pleasanton, just outside of San Francisco
It was first spotted at 3.45pm and cops tranquilized the big cat with four darts by nightfall
The puma was a healthy nine to 12-month-old male weighing about 80 pounds
The cat was successfully captured at 8.18pm thanks to work by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The cat’s body after it was tranquilized pictured above
Alameda County officials and California Department of Fish and Wildlife crews tracked down the puma using a drone with thermal imaging cameras and secured the area.
Drones were used to get an aerial of the puma in case it suddenly darted away and locals were told to wait in their cars until the puma was taken down.
Hours after the puma was first spotted, officials shot the animal with one tranquilizer dart at 7pm then again after an hour. When the cat was still moving by the second dose a third was administered at 7.30pm then a fourth, according to KTVU.
The cat was officially captured at 8.18pm.
The cat hid out in these bushes in the parking lot and was shot with the first tranquilizer dart at 7pm
The cat was shot with an additional three darts until it stopped moving but was still breathing
Cops then carried the cat away and will release it back into the wild, it likely came from Stanislaus County
The entire parking lot of the busy Pleasanton area was taped off as officials faced the puma
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife crews, and Pleasanton Police worked together to secure the mountain lion
Once unconscious, officials carried the puma away from the scene. They say it’ll be returned to the wild and that it likely came from Stanislaus County, according to KPIX.
The mountain lion was quickly dubbed the #PleasantonPuma and was a healthy nine to 12-month-old male weighing about 75 to 80 pounds, cops said.
Pleasanton police shared images of the puma capture on social media writing: ‘Wondering if he knows it’s national cat day?’
Alameda County Sheriff shared images of the secured cat as well writing: ‘A beautiful animal. Good team work for a paw-sitive outcome #pleasantonpuma.’
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