Evan J. LancasterResponding to reports of cougar sightings on Tuesday, March 22, the Irvine Police Department found themselves herding cats in a shopping center.
Eventually, officers found the animal near Irvine Center Drive and Sand Canyon. Irvine Police officers and Irvine Animal Services acted quickly to sedate and capture the big cat, but not after a good chase.
Estimated to be about two years old, the male mountain lion was seen near a shopping center near Sand Canyon and Irvine Center Drive.
A wild scene in Irvine early this afternoon as a mountain lion ran through a busy shopping center before running inside an office building. The mountain lion was then tranquilized by animal control and transported to a local veterinarian. No one was injured @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/B6deSVJLZ1
— Chris Ercoli (@CErcoliCBS2KCAL) March 22, 2022
After officers were able to locate the animal, IPD Irvine Animal Services were able to sedate and relocate him to a local animal shelter.
The before he was captured, video shows the cat running from officers directly in front of Bishop Cuts and Color. Officers eventually cornered the animal inside the barbershop.
No injuries were reported.
Sighting involving mountain lions or cougars are not uncommon, as the big cats natively occupy the Santa Ana Mountains north of Irvine.
However, experts warn that the eradication of natural areas will lead to more inbreeding and a decrease in genetic variation in these cats, which will ultimately lead to extinction.
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