GPS tracking collar placed on mountain lion captured in San Mateo

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KGO) -- Biologists are hoping the mountain lion that ventured into a crowded area of San Mateo has learned not to do it again. The animal was found roaming near El Camino Real and Ninth Avenue on Monday night. It was eventually tranquilized and released in a wooded area near San Andreas Lake by Millbrae.

PHOTOS: Mountain lion captured in San Mateo

Young mountain lions set out on their own when they're about 1.5 years old to create and establish their own territory. Biologists hypothesize that the lions are finding themselves in urban areas because that's where their food supply, the deer, have also moved.

"He's probably just lying under a tree today, just taking it easy," said biologist and Santa Cruz Puma Project Manager Paul Houghtaling. "But he'll continue to move on in a couple of days."

The Santa Cruz Puma Project has been tracking 56 mountain lions starting in 2008. The lion captured in San Mateo is the latest after Houghtaling placed a GPS tracking collar on it. He's now known as 56M.

Houghtaling says this mountain lion was in search of his own territory after leaving his mother.

"This is pretty common, especially this time of year," he said. "They're wandering, maybe their follow a creek corridor at night. And sometimes that may lead them into areas where there's people."

And there are creeks nearby that lead right from the Santa Cruz range down to the flatlands of San Mateo.

"The best habitat in the area does happen to be lower down where there's more oak trees and bay laurels," Houghtaling said. "That's good deer habitat, so it's going to follow where the food and the deer are, which is going to bring it closer to people."

In fact, ABC7 News spotted a young buck and fawn grazing in the hills above San Mateo. Residents have noticed deer coming down into their neighborhoods in greater number.

The mountain lion's tracking device will be monitored by researchers to learn more about their search for food and territory. An estimated 70 lions live in the range stretching from Daly City to Santa Cruz.

The animal was released in the watershed west of Highway 280, putting him back in a natural habitat, but also near popular hiking and cycling trails.

"I mean, I feel very safe with all the people on the trail," said trail user Christina Jensen. "I feel like that will deter the mountain lion away."

Officials say that 56M's journey is much like the path that other mountain lions take. They're known to travel as much as 200 miles as they search for their own territory.