# Mountain lion captured in the middle of San Francisco **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 27, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100 "2026-01-27T20:09:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/41 "2026-01-28T01:41:03Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > But this is the very first I’ve heard of The City being likened to a cougar (of either description). I think you need to go back and read that initial quote you made from me again, because I think you’ve lost track of the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/42 "2026-01-28T01:43:01Z")
I live about 20 miles south of San Francisco, and there are definitely mountain lions in the wilderness around me. A year or so ago my neighbor’s doorbell camera captured one walking through their back yard. But 20 miles of mostly residential and commercial area seems a long way for an animal to roam. I’m pretty sure there is no mountain lion population in the Presidio or Golden Gate Park. The closest possible source MIGHT be San Bruno Park, but that’s at least a 6 mile trek through residential neighborhoods to where it was caught. The open space east of Pacifica is more likely but that’s even farther, around 15-20 miles. That cat either was somebody’s pet in the city, or had a serious case of wanderlust. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/43 "2026-01-28T02:01:59Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I think that’s what they call “authentic frontier gibberish”. **Atamasama** Johnson is right, by crackie! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/44 "2026-01-28T02:36:36Z")
There’s a scene in the movie “Inside Out”, which is partially set in the Bay Area, where the little girl says, “There are no bears in San Francisco!” I laughed, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/45 "2026-01-28T02:43:03Z")
I alluded to this, but mountain lions have been known to range far. Here’s one that did a 1000 mile trek. > **[The Amazing Trace: tracking the 1,000-mile journey of a Utah cougar](https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/wildlife-blog/1845-amazing-trace-tracking-the-journey-of-a-utah-cougar.html)** > > I enjoy my time studying each species I work with, but none have challenged me quite like cougars. Every time we learn something new about cougar behavior or ecology, it only generates more questions about this species. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/46 "2026-01-28T04:55:36Z")
Considering that was a Pixar movie, I’m pretty sure that was intentional! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/47 "2026-01-28T06:33:11Z")
I agree, 100%. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/48 "2026-01-28T10:42:21Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > A cougar, mountain lion, puma, panther, catamount, and a few other names all refer to the same animal. Funny thing, I only discovered a few years back that “catamount” referred to mountain lions. Since I’d only ran across the word in fantasy novels I had the idea for decades that a catamount was some fantasy critter like a manticore. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/49 "2026-01-28T13:39:20Z")
Was the mountain lion going to the pride district? I’ll see myself out. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/50 "2026-01-28T16:34:37Z")
No, it was heading to the Puma store over near Mane Street. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/51 "2026-01-28T16:37:07Z")
Mickey Katz: “You don’t know what it is a mountain lion? A mountain lion is an _alter cougar_!” punning on _alter kocker_, Yiddish for “old fart” ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/52 "2026-01-28T16:48:01Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > At least the cops did not blow it away this time. Even though it was an illegal immigrant?😁 ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/53 "2026-01-28T16:55:46Z")
That’s what got me excited. > [@blondebear](#): > > Oops, got my street names mixed up. > [@blondebear](#): > > Oops, got my street names mixed up. That’s what got me excited. A mountain lion in the city? Yeah, that’s sort of interesting, but there’s an intersection of Octavia and Butler in San Francisco? Wow! ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/54 "2026-01-29T16:36:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Might it have actually taken public transportation? Who would buy the ticket? I don’t think that species usually carries much currency around, if any… ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/55 "2026-01-29T17:01:45Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Who would buy the ticket? Ok then, **YOU** try and throw it off the bus/train for fare evasion! ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/56 "2026-01-29T17:04:23Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Ok then, **YOU** try and throw it off the bus/train for fare evasion! Of course not. I expect we’d all be very polite, and at most venture a quiet question like “going anywhere interesting today?…” ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/57 "2026-01-30T02:16:02Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Snagglepuss is gay?? That thought had honestly never occurred to me. It’s a fairly recent idea, from the last 10 years. Before that he was just a 1960’s pastel color, low-res color scheme, with the “cowardly lion” voice from Wizard of Oz. He’s pink to distinguish him from the other low-res illustrations. FWIW, the character did make ineffectual attempts to land a girlfriend, but he’s a bit of nerd as evidenced by his third-party comments and Shakespear quotations - a classic supporting actor looser character. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/58 "2026-01-30T02:23:52Z")
As much as I dislike cats, I’m also glad for this outcome. Catch the Beast and put him where he belongs, wish him Good Luck and move on. I’m sure he didn’t wanna end up in SF. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/59 "2026-01-30T03:12:06Z")
Cat fish dislikes cats? Hmmm 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100/60 "2026-01-30T03:45:57Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Snagglepuss is gay?? Not originally but later on, they went there. > [@Melbourne](#): > > It’s a fairly recent idea, from the last 10 years. Before that he was just a 1960’s pastel color, low-res color scheme, with the “cowardly lion” voice from Wizard of Oz. He’s pink to distinguish him from the other low-res illustrations. > > FWIW, the character did make ineffectual attempts to land a girlfriend, but he’s a bit of nerd as evidenced by his third-party comments and Shakespear quotations - a classic supporting actor looser character. Right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-captured-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco/1027100.md?page=4)