Errant Deer Causes Rush-Hour Traffic Jam on Golden Gate Bridge

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. —  Frustrated motorists sat in a traffic jam as a deer sauntered across the Golden Gate Bridge on Tuesday from Marin County into San Francisco and disappeared into the wooded Presidio nearby.

Traffic was halted in both directions during the morning rush hour while the young deer, evading all efforts to get it off the road, was escorted by bridge employees across the span, delaying the commute across the bay by about 20 minutes.

Officials said San Francisco had not had a deer sighting in about 15 years. And they said the city might not be the most hospitable place for the animal.

“Our natural resource people say this is not the best habitat for the deer,” said Ron Sonenshine, spokesman for the Presidio Trust, which operates the 1,491-acre national park, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The Presidio has a lot of dense foliage, he said, adding that deer typically like to eat grass.

Also, Sonenshine said, traffic is considerable on the former Army post, which is particularly dark at night because of a lack of streetlights.

Sonenshine said the Presidio Trust’s natural resources employees have been told to be on the lookout for the deer -- the only one believed to be in the park.

About 2,000 people who live at the Presidio will be asked to watch out for the animal.

“If we get sightings, we’ll have to figure out what to do with it,” Sonenshine said. “Most of our folks are amused and bemused by it.”

The deer isn’t the first wild animal to cross the Golden Gate Bridge from Marin and end up at the Presidio. About a year ago, two coyotes made the trek, Sonenshine said.

Carl Friedman, executive director of Animal Care and Control in San Francisco, said the city hasn’t had any deer for the last 15 years.

He said the city isn’t a suitable place for them, adding, “They wouldn’t get along with all the vehicles.”

Although officials said they were unsure of how to deal with the deer if it was spotted again, it probably won’t be shot.

A mountain lion that wandered into a Palo Alto neighborhood earlier this week was shot and killed by police who said they feared for the safety of schoolchildren in that San Francisco suburb.

If the deer wanders off the Presidio and into traffic, Friedman said, he’ll call the Marin Humane Society to help capture it.

Steve Hill, field lieutenant for the Marin Humane Society, said, “It’s very difficult to try and relocate deer. They don’t tranquilize well.”

Typically, the agency steps in to capture a deer only if it becomes trapped, as one did recently at a cistern at Stafford Lake in Novato.

But he downplays the notion that the deer wouldn’t like city living.

“I think the deer will probably love it over there,” Hill said. “There’s a beautiful golf course in the Presidio.”