A hairy fugitive is on the run.
Wildlife officials are trying to capture an adorable rabbit-like rodent native to South America that was spotted frolicking in the Colorado mountains.
According to authorities, the exotic Patagonian mara, a tiny creature that’s 2-3 feet tall, has been spotted by park rangers, hikers and tourists at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, Colorado, just 15 miles from downtown Denver. 9 News.
“They have fairly long ears like rabbits and deer-like legs, but they are a large species of rodent,” Cat Emanuel, an animal care specialist at the Denver Zoo, told the outlet.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are currently trying to capture our furry little friend and find him a new home, but so far have been unsuccessful.
The Patagonian mara is a long-eared, hooved rodent with a white patch down the center of its body and covered in orange-grayish-brown fur on its flanks and around its head. According to the National Zoo.
It lives mainly in grasslands and scrublands of central and southern Argentina.
The animal is classified as “near threatened” in wildlife conservation and can live for around 14 years in human care.
Officials believe the escaped rat may have been someone’s pet and may be accustomed to being around humans, given the number of park visitors who have spotted the tiny rodent roaming the wild.
“It’s concerning because this behavior is probably because he’s not used to being aware of the many dangers around him,” said Emily Insalaco, senior director of animal care at the Denver Zoo.
Because maras are herbivores, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials set live traps around the area using “a combination of fruits and vegetables,” according to the media.
CPW spokesperson Kara Van Hoos hopes the traps will attract the furry animals so they can find a safer life in the United States.
“We don’t know anything about the animal itself,” Insalaco said, “we don’t know what its temperament is. We just need to get it somewhere safe and make sure it’s healthy. From there, we’ll take care of it.”
Authorities are urging the public to keep an eye out for the small animal, but if they do see it, they are urged not to approach, feed or take photos with Mara.
If captured, investigators will investigate whether the mara had been domesticated and if anyone had kept the tiny animal as a pet.
