Strange creature native to South America spotted in Colorado park. What is it?

A strange creature native to South America was spotted roaming around a Colorado park, a photo and video shows.

Reg Cox posted photo and video of the sighting on Facebook on July 1.

“Lakewood area trail friends…if you spot this animal at Bear Creek Lake Park, Lakewood, CO contact the Ranger,” he said. “It’s a Patagonian Mara from Argentina and won’t survive. Not sure if it’s a lost pet or discard but deserves to live regardless!”

The video shows the creature turning around on the trail but standing its ground as park visitors approach.

“It looks kind of like a rabbit,” the person filming says in the video.

“Like a rabbit deer sort of thing,” someone else says.

The small critter appears to have a face and ears similar to a rabbit with the body of a deer — or some odd combination of the two.

City and state officials received multiple reports of the creature in the park from visitors and park rangers, KMGH reported.

The animals are native to central and southern Argentina and are also known as Patagonian cavies or Patagonian hares, according to Zoo Atlanta. They’re rodents, though, and their closest relatives are capybaras.

The creatures are relatively small , weighing 17 to 35 pounds when fully grown, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. They average just over 2 feet long.

They aren’t harmful, and officials believe the one seen could have been someone’s pet considering how willing it is to approach people, KDVR reported.

That behavior can be unsafe for the animal, a near-threatened species, Emily Insalaco told KUSA. She’s the senior director of animal care at the Denver Zoo, which has also received reports of the sighting.

“That kind of behavior, he’s probably not used to keeping an eye out for a lot of dangers in his environment if this is the case. And so, it can be concerning for an animal that’s out in the park,” she told the station. “That’s one of the reasons we’re helping our partners in Colorado Parks and Wildlife.”

Wildlife officials set up live traps in the park with various fruits and vegetables to hopefully lure the runaway rodent, the station reported.

Several people commented on Cox’s photo and video showing the critter.

“Oh my what a spectacular animal,” someone said. “Hope it will be okay!!”

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