More than a dozen animal pelts were stolen last week from the Durango Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Pelts from a bobcat, Alaskan gray wolf, mountain lion and other animals went missing between the evening of Oct. 29 and 7:20 a.m. Oct. 30 from the museum on east 16th Street, Durango Police Cmdr. Ray Shupe said.
Additional missing pelts were from an elk, lynx, raccoon, red fox and two coyotes, said Joe Lewandowski, spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Animal pelts stolen from Durango wildlife museum
The glass door of the museum was found shattered Oct. 30, but the break-in did not set off the building’s alarm, Lewandowski said.
Pelts from a skunk, beaver and gray fox were found in the parking lot of the museum, and the pelt of a mountain goat was found along the Animas River Trail near Junction Creek, he said.
A mule deer pelt, badger and Rocky Mountain big horn sheep pelt were recovered by the Durango Police Department, he said.
The pelts were part of an educational display and were not behind glass, he said.
“These pelts are things that you could, unfortunately, put under your arm and make off with,” Lewandowski said.
Animal pelts stolen from Durango wildlife museum
The pelts were cured to preserve their soft fur and are likely worth thousands of dollars, he said.
Many other aspects of the wildlife museum, including a bear and mounted birds, were left untouched, he said.
“It looks like a real stupid prank,” Lewandowski said.
The Durango Police Department is seeking information about the crime; anyone with information can call Detective Kathy O’Toole at 375-4734.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
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