Mountain Lion Gambles on Reno, Comes Up Loser

A mountain lion that apparently roamed into Reno in search of food led police on a 6 1/2-hour chase Wednesday before it was captured as it lounged on the patio at a restaurant.

Police said the 65-pound female lion, which was first spotted at the Peppermill hotel-casino before daybreak, was stung by two tranquilizer darts as it lay under a bench at the Hacienda del Sol restaurant near the Peppermill.

Reno Animal Control and state Department of Wildlife workers took the drugged lion away. Wildlife spokesman Dave Rice said the animal will be taken to a remote area outside Reno and released.

Telephone calls began coming into the police station at about 5:25 a.m., when a parking lot attendant at the Peppermill and several Virginia Lake joggers reported seeing the animal, Sgt. Greg Dion said.

Dion said animal tracks were spotted by police leading from the Peppermill to Virginia Lake.

The lion dropped out of sight until just before noon, when workers preparing lunch at the Hacienda del Sol saw it on the patio, according to restaurant manager Barry Rivlin.

Rice said mountain lion sightings are not unusual in Reno, although the animals usually slip in and out unnoticed.