A mountain lion wandered into a Santa Monica residential neighborhood Friday, prompting street closures and an hours-long standoff that ended with the cat being sedated with a tranquilizer dart.
Santa Monica police said officers responded around 10 a.m. to the area of 14th Street and Montana Avenue, where the lion had been spotted and was later photographed by a resident lounging in some bushes in the front yard of a home.
“Out of an abundance of caution, officers are in the area assessing the report and working with appropriate wildlife resources,” Santa Monica police said in a statement on social media Friday morning. “At this time, there are no reported injuries. Community members in the area are encouraged to remain indoors, and avoid approaching or attempting to photograph the animal if it is seen.”
State wildlife officials responded to the area to assist in efforts to corral the cat.
Multiple streets in the area were closed while the effort continued.
At about 3:30 p.m., authorities fired a series of tranquilizer darts toward the animal, which bolted from its location and ran north, winding up near another home in the area of Euclid Street and Marguerita Avenue.
Authorities monitored the animal at the location, and by late afternoon, the lion had been sedated. Wildlife experts were checking the lion’s health, and were expected to place a tracking collar on the animal before moving it back to the mountains.