I have long thought of Mountain Lions as majestic creatures. Too awesome of an animal to kill. Unfortunately the proximity and hunting tendencies of a few have led to ones demise. Three dogs, (Smalls, Sugar, and Mogul), have been killed by lions within the last month. During one of the attacks a Red Cliff resident shot one. My mixed feelings come from the fact that Sugar weighs about the same as my daughter. Yes the animals have rights, but so do the kids in town. Wildlife officials issued an alert Thursday and admitted that Mountain Lion populations have been on the rise. Unpublished rumors include the killing of a few goats in the neighboring town of Minturn, (sorry don't know the names). A lion got hit on highway 24, and another young lion picked the wrong fight with a couple fenced in pit bulls. There are a few more dogs around that townsfolk wouldn't mind if eaten, but I hope the situation gets resolved.