Officials tranquilize ‘fairly large’ mountain lion in La Crescenta for relocation

A “fairly large” mountain lion that was spotted roaming in a La Crescenta neighborhood Thursday afternoon was tranquilized to be relocated in the wild, a state wildlife official said.

Officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were called in after the lion was spotted just before 2 p.m. and didn’t appear to be disturbing anything at the home in the 4500 block of New York Avenue, according to Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz.

PHOTOS: Mountain lion captured in La Crescenta residential area

From there, the lion roamed the area and was seen in the 3300 and 3400 blocks of Thelma Street.

[Updated 4:40 p.m.: Officials had to use at least three tranquilizer darts on the mountain lion and were waiting for the animal to become fully sedated before moving it out from underneath a “tight spot” of a patio deck in the 4500 block of New York Avenue, Lorenz said.]

Few details were available about the lion, but state Fish and Wildlife spokesman Andrew Hughan confirmed the large cat had been contained and would be returned to its habitat.

While no one was inside the New York Avenue home at the time of the discovery, Lorenz said, but police tried to maintain a calm environment so the lion did not become agitated.

-- Veronica Rocha, veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA.

[View the story “La Crescenta locals react to mountain lion on Twitter” on Storify]