Full Breakdown
Mountain Lion Triggers Shelter-in-Place in Pasadena
6/6/2026, 9:03:21 PM
Core Event
At about 11 a.m. Friday, a mountain lion was seen resting beside an apartment building at Del Mar Boulevard and Euclid Avenue in Old Town Pasadena. Pasadena police sealed off the block and ordered residents to shelter in place. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) biologists and wildlife officers entered the building, tranquilized the animal through a first-floor window, and loaded it onto a truck for transport to the Angeles National Forest, where it will receive a medical assessment.
Timeline
- 11 a.m.: Lion sighted; shelter-in-place advisory issued.
- ~4 p.m.: Tranquilizer shot; animal sedated.
- 4:15 p.m.: Lion secured, moved to Angeles National Forest; road closures lifted.
Data & Statistics
The cougar weighed roughly 80 lb, indicating a sub-adult size. It is the third sighting in a month on Pasadena’s east side, including a prior incident three miles north of the 210 Freeway. After capture, the animal was fitted with a tracking tag.
Official Statements & Responses
City public information officer Lisa Derderian said the event is “very rare” for a mountain lion to appear south of the 210 Freeway, a corridor that wildlife rarely use. CDFW described the tranquilization as successful and confirmed the tracking tag will aid future monitoring. Pasadena police highlighted the coordinated response that kept the public safe.
On-the-Ground Reports
Neighbors reported the lion lounging in shade near the apartments. Students at nearby Mayfield Junior School were kept inside, and a graduation ceremony was postponed. Residents heard news helicopters and observed police and fire units securing the area.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the animal’s age—one calls it “not a full-grown mountain lion,” another labels it an “adult.” The exact tranquilization time is given as “around 4 p.m.” in one account and simply “eventually” in another. Gender and prior tagging remain unknown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's very rare for a mountain lion to come south of the 210 Freeway, this low from the foothills. We're literally several miles from the foothill area where we experienced the Eaton Fires, so we are seeing more wildlife coming lower,” — Lisa Derderian, Public Information Officer, City of Pasadena.
- “There's a school down the street that led out when this call came out, so our concern was ensuring the students quickly got into their vehicles and left the area,” — Lisa Derderian, Pasadena city spokesperson.
- “The convention center is just north of here. Hundreds of people today for graduations, so we have our police departments surrounding this cat.” — Lisa Derderian, Pasadena city spokesperson.
- “The news is a safe ending,” — Lisa Derderian, Pasadena Public Information Officer.
Implications & Next Steps
The incident underscores expanding human-wildlife interfaces in Southern California. Authorities will review habitat-connectivity plans and public-alert protocols, while CDFW monitors the tagged cougar to better understand urban movement patterns.
