Lions and Grizzlies and Elk, Oh My!

The mountain lion traipsing around San Francisco last week made me curious about other animals that used to live right here where people, buildings and cars now compete for space.

I'm thrilled that a creature as magnificent as a mountain lion apparently snuck around the mansions of Seacliff and the hills of Pacific Heights. Chances are, it was the same mountain lion that was later tranquilized and captured in the Diamond Heights neighborhood.

Huge grizzly bears used to roam around San Francisco and much of California, hence the flag. A gigantic bear might not be able to hide out as well as a mountain lion if one turned up in the city today.

Why did grizzly bears live in San Francisco? Because of the incredible dining options.

The habitat here and all around the bay was perfect for salmon, so when you're in the Mission think about all those rich salmon waters underfoot.

While the grizzlies were gorging themselves on salmon, mountain lions probably enjoyed the occasional tule elk. Herds of elk foraged in the city and all around the bay.

One historic account from an 1898 issue of "Forest & Stream" tells of a ship captain having to lower his sails because there were so many elk swimming across part of the bay.

Most of the time, though, they were probably just munching on grass.

When we hear about urban coyotes or mountain lions in our midst, I like to think of all the wildlife that used to live in San Francisco and around the bay. This place was teeming with wildlife, these cartoons just barely scratch the surface.

An archival account of hunting and trapping in the Bay Area gives a small window into how people used to deal with local wildlife.

Some animals have returned to the bay and grey whales have made a comeback, but let's hope salmon don't go the way of the California grizzly.

So keep your eyes peeled for the animals of San Francisco, past and present.