Moose Droppings

Caribou Mystery a Little Closer to Being Solved

Oct 19, 2006 @ 05:12 pm by Moose

Yesterday I brought you the story of the Caribou that turned up in Colorado. Well officals have had some time to look at this animal and they are certain it came from a game ranch because of a tag in it’s ear.

“It’s very doubtful he was native to this area,” said Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman Tyler Baskfield.
As evidence, Baskfield points to a tag inscribed with a “4″ attached to the animal’s ear, which indicates it may have escaped from a nearby preserve or ranch for wild animals.
“We’re pretty certain he didn’t migrate down here,” Baskfield said. “But with wildlife, once you say something is for certain, something always comes up to shock you.”
Wild caribou have been seen as far south as northern Washington, said Aron Crowell, Alaska regional director of the Arctic Studies Center in Anchorage.
But Crowell agreed a caribou in Colorado is about as a rare as a whale in the South Platte River.

If you lost a Caribou you should contact Colorado officials because they would like to return it to you.

The animal was in good shape and appeared to have been feasting on the grass that covers the local high plains, Fisher said.
It doesn’t appear that any laws were broken, Baskfield said, and the state wants to return the carcass to its owner, whoever he might be.
“We also want to make sure,” Baskfield said, “that there aren’t any more caribou wandering around out there.”

Denver Post