A mountain lion set off a dramatic wildlife response in a busy Escondido neighborhood, ending in a tranquilizer takedown, a drone-assisted pursuit and a nighttime release back into the wild near the Cleveland National Forest.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials were called to the intersection of Mission Avenue and Grape Street at about 1:30 p.m. Monday after reports of the big cat tucked under a vehicle in a densely populated residential area.

Adult males can control territories as large as 200 square miles, while females typically range between 30 and 70 square miles.…