The Patagonian mara spotted in Lakewood Park in July is likely dead, officials say

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The exotic creature, later identified as a Patagonian mara, which was spotted in a Lakewood park in July has not been seen since and is likely deceased, an official said Tuesday morning.

A naturalist from Bear Creek Lake Park, where the animal was last seen, posted on the park’s Facebook page to share the news.

“The mara was illegally released into the park sometime just before July 4,” the report reads. “We had several reports from park users and staff, as well as photos and videos of these encounters. After consulting with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, we determined that the mara was likely the product of the illegal pet trade because it was very docile and not easily startled by people or other wildlife.”

In early JulyBoth Amber Thill, operations manager for the City of Lakewood’s Community Resources Department, and CPW’s Kara Van Hoose, told Denver7 that their departments had received multiple reports about the animal from both rangers and park visitors.

Park staff and CPW have been placing multiple baited traps hidden throughout the park for weeks in an attempt to capture the animal. Around the same time, CPW was in discussions with the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, both of which have Patagonian mara exhibits, to see if they could possibly include an additional animal.

Check out Denver7’s July report on the discovery of the Patagonian mara.

Strange non-native animal identified after sightings at Lakewood’s Bear Creek Lake Park

“After several weeks of no success and no new sightings, we removed the traps,” the park’s naturalist said. “Given that this mara is docile and in an unknown ecosystem, and has not been spotted since July, we can assume that nature has taken its course and one of our native predators has played a role.”

In their natural habitat in central and southern Argentina, Patagonian maras face multiple predators, including cats, foxes and large birds.

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Patagonian maras resemble capybaras, one of their closest relatives Zoo Atlanta.

“The general shape of Patagonian maras is that of a long-legged rodent with a body similar to an ungulate,” says the author. This was reported by the Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.

Their long legs allow them to reach speeds of up to 55 km/h. According to the National Zoo, they prefer grasslands and brushy areas with plenty of open space. The animals mainly eat grasses, cacti, flowers, fruits and seeds.

They are not harmful to humans.

If anyone sees strange animals in the park, contact the Bear Creek Lake Park Visitors Center at 303-697-6159 or CPW at 303-297-1192.

Colorado wildlife law generally prohibits the live possession of native and exotic wildlifesaid CPW.

“An escaped exotic animal could potentially hybridize with a native species, cause habitat destruction, or compete for habitat with native species,” according to CPW’s website. “Captive bred wildlife also poses a potential threat for the introduction of disease into native populations. All of these complex factors must be taken into account when managing privately owned live wildlife in the State of Colorado.”

Dumping pets – exotic or otherwise – in Colorado is illegal.