Colorado wildlife officers are on the lookout for a Patagonian mara roaming a Lakewood park, though it’s unclear how the large rodent native to South America made its way to metro Denver.

Bear Creek Lake Park rangers and visitors have reported several encounters with what appears to be a Patagonian mara, an Argentine animal that looks like a mix between a rabbit and a capybara.

One visitor posted a video of the animal on Reddit after coming across it on a trail while mountain biking.

Maras weigh between 17 and 35 pounds and Lakewood officials believe the animal spotted on park trails may have been a pet, city spokesperson Amber Thill said in an email. It’s usually illegal to keep native or exotic wildlife as pets in Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

CPW officers have set live traps for the mara and are working to find it a new home at a zoo or other facility, agency spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said.

As cute and cuddly as maras appear, Van Hoose said anyone who spots the animal should not approach it or try to pet it or take a selfie.

“These are wild animals, and we’re not sure how they behave or how they react,” she said. “It’s always a good rule of thumb to leave wildlife alone, so if you’re approached by a Patagonian mara, leave it alone.”

Maras are considered a near-threatened species and are in danger from hunting and habitat loss, according to Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. With long ears and legs and short tails, maras are known to hop, gallop or “stot” by bouncing on all fours.

Maras mate for life and can live up to 14 years in captivity, according to the National Zoo.

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Originally Published: July 3, 2024 at 2:24 p.m.