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UPDATE: Mountain lion released back into wild after capture at TMC Friday

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and last updated

UPDATE 07/15

The mountain lion that made its way into a Tucson Medical Center courtyard Friday was released back into the wild, according to a press release update from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).

Wildlife officials determined the mountain lion was healthy and fit for release, having shown no signs of "nuisance behavior." Fitted with a GPS radio collar, AZGFD says it was released Saturday in an area away from the Tucson metro.

AZGFD also released a timeline of events from Friday, saying the department first received the alert around 10:30 a.m. At around 12:30 p.m., wildlife officers had tranquilized the mountain lion and moved it to a Tucson regional office.

They say the mountain lion was a 'subadult' male, and that it was not injured during its capture.

WATCH VIDEO OF THE MOUNTAIN LION'S RELEASE:

AZGFD Mountain Lion release

(Video courtesy AZGFD)

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An unexpected visitor was caught on camera Friday at Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Road.

Video shot by Christian Galaviz obtained by KGUN 9 shows a mountain lion peering into windows in a courtyard area of the medical campus. TMC says the area was secured, and an Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) crew was on-site to remove the mountain lion.

According to TMC, no patients, staff or visitors were at risk when the big cat was on the grounds. A spokesperson for AZGFD says they're working to determine if the mountain lion should be relocated to a wilderness area or to a zoo.

Mountain Lion at TMC
"With the assistance of officers from the Tucson Police Department, the wildlife officers were able to successfully dart and tranquilize the mountain lion without injury around 12:30 p.m.," according to a media release from AZGFD.

In the event that you come across a mountain lion AZGFD recently released best practices for remaining safe:

  • Do not approach the mountain lion in order to give it a path to escape
  • Report all mountain lion attacks to 911, and all sightings to AZGFD at (623) 236-7201
  • For the full list, visit AZGFD's guide on "Living with Mountain Lions"