In 1992, Myrtle was noted to have resided at the park since at least 1985. A local transient claimed to have moved Myrtle from the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District to Mountain Lake Park after seeing her being harassed by a group of young men. Myrtle was transported from the park to the Zoo in February 1992 to convalesce from an apparent bite wound on the neck, possibly caused by dogs or raccoons. Myrtle's removal to the Zoo was preceded by the removal of two swans from the park in 1991.