Mountain lion spotted in Aspen neighborhood

Big cat has been seen on residents decks near Castle Creek drainage

A mountain lion has been spotted in the urban interface of Aspen, lurking around and on the decks of condominium owners near Eighth Street.

Charlie Martin, a community safety officer for the Aspen Police Department, said on Tuesday he has received two reports from people who live at the Villas of Aspen this week, saying that they spotted the lion on their decks.

It is probably working the Castle Creek drainage, Martin said. Its out cruising, doing what it does. ... [But] its serious and you need to know about it.

Chet Feldman, who lives in the area, said his son spotted the animal on their deck last Monday evening right around dusk.

It was slinking down the hillside between the decks, he said of his sons sighting.

He said the area is usually a habitat for bear, fox and coyotes, but the mountain lion is a concern, noting that even his house cat is reluctant to go outside these days.

Big cats in a residential area are a different deal, Feldman said.

The condos sit on the hillside above Castle Creek and are near the Marolt Open Space, a popular destination for dogs and their owners.

Condo owner Neil Siegel wrote an email to his neighbors this past Sunday saying that a mature mountain lion was sighted on our property this week, on the deck of unit #27 and in the area between units 23 and 27.

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Mountain lion spotted in Aspen neighborhood