Mountain lion spotted, and photographed, in San Francisco

A mountain lion has been spotted in San Francisco recently, including here in the Sea Cliff neighborhood. A mountain lion has been spotted in San Francisco recently, including here in the Sea Cliff neighborhood. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Mountain lion spotted, and photographed, in San Francisco 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

For the first time in years, a mountain lion has been spotted roaming in San Francisco, with three members of the public calling in sightings in recent days and a camera capturing the big cat as well, officials said.

The puma was captured by a security camera June 30 in the Sea Cliff neighborhood, said the Presidio Trust, the National Park Service, and San Francisco Animal Care and Control.

The creature was spotted by members of the public the same day near Lincoln and Washington boulevards in the Presidio near Fort Winfield Scott. It was seen on the 1000 block of Gough Street on July 1, and in southwest San Francisco near Lake Merced on July 3, officials said.

They believe all of the sightings are of the same animal that apparently was heading south.

The agencies “are working closely to monitor and manage the issue and to keep the community informed,” officials said in a statement. “Mountain lions are naturally wary of humans and encounters between people and mountain lions are very rare.”

The organizations listed safety guidelines on mountain lions, which can be viewed at http://1.usa.gov/1KPpGsy.

Hamed Aleaziz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @haleaziz