Story perspectives

Pasadena Mountain Lion Tranquilized, Tagged, Relocated to Forest

6/6/2026

Summary

Officials Tranquilize Cougar

U.S. officials tranquilized and removed a mountain lion from a Pasadena neighborhood on Friday.
Police blocked streets and ordered shelter-in-place after the animal was seen around 11 a.m. near Del Mar and Euclid.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists fired a tranquilizer through a window at about 4:00 p.m., capturing the 80-lb cougar and tagging it.
Officials moved the tagged cougar to the Angeles National Forest and lifted road closures.

Summary

Officers Tranquilize Cougar

Wildlife officers tranquilized the cougar and moved it to nearby bushes for medical assessment.
The sighting forced the postponement of a nearby school’s graduation ceremony Friday.
Authorities evacuated two apartment buildings and instructed residents and business owners to stay indoors.
Pasadena Fire Department joined police and California Department of Fish and Wildlife in the response.
Officials reported no injuries among the public during the incident.

History

Historical Context

After a mountain lion was found dead on a highway in the Santa Monica Mountains in 1996, officials noted growing human-wildlife tension. When a cougar entered Pasadena this year, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Pasadena police and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tranquilized it and evacuated residents. The episode reflects a pattern of more than a dozen freeway deaths since 2002.

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Officials Tranquilize Cougar

U.S. officials tranquilized and removed a mountain lion from a Pasadena neighborhood on Friday.
Police blocked streets and ordered shelter-in-place after the animal was seen around 11 a.m. near Del Mar and Euclid.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists fired a tranquilizer through a window at about 4:00 p.m., capturing the 80-lb cougar and tagging it.
Officials moved the tagged cougar to the Angeles National Forest and lifted road closures.

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