DENVER (KKTV) – CPW reported that they suspect the exotic Patagonian Mara seen in Colorado is an abandoned domesticated pet.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported that a Patagonian Mara was recently seen in a park in Lakewood. They believed that the Patagonian Mara may have been an illegal domesticated pet that was abandoned by its owners.

They said they are continuing to search for the Patagonian Mara. CPW hopes they can find it and put it in an “appropriate institution” to be properly cared for.

Following the exotic animal sighting, CPW wanted to remind pet owners to never release unwanted pets into the wild as it poses risks to the pet and the community.

Whether a native or non-native species, domestic animals typically cannot fend for themselves in the wild, causing risks in finding food and shelter. Releasing domesticated pets into the wild can also introduce new diseases, parasites and dangers for wild species.

CPW says that unwanted pets can be surrendered to local shelters, or owners can contact animal control for other options. To surrender exotic wildlife, owners need to contact CPW’s office for further directions.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks anyone who experiences a Patagonian Mara sighting to report it to 303-291-7227.

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On Sunday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced a total of five human cases of avian influenza in workers responding to the outbreak at a commercial egg layer operation. Four cases have been confirmed, and the fifth is “presumptive positive and pending confirmation at CDC.” Previously, there were four confirmed cases in humans following exposure to dairy cows, as well as one case from poultry from 2022. 

According to the announcement the workers had “mild symptoms” and none were hospitalized. Specifically, they had pink eye and “common respiratory infection symptoms.” Public health officials suspect the workers got infected by working directly with infected poultry. On Friday, the CDC said the risk to the general public remains low. “There are no signs of unexpected increases in flu activity otherwise in Colorado or in other states affected by H5 bird flu outbreaks in cows and poultry,” the agency said.

This latest development is one part of a multi-month story. In late March, a worker on a commercial dairy farm in Texas developed a case of pink eye. He eventually tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza Type A H5N1, also known as bird flu. Scientists were shocked to find out that cattle, not birds, were the host — and that large amounts of H5N1 were found in the infected cattle. As Salon has previously reported, experts have raised concerns that more human cases than those that have been reported have gone undetected since then. 

Notably, the Colorado workers are believed to have been infected by poultry, not cattle. This news follows a report that suggested the bird flu is mutating to better infect humans.

Four poultry workers in Colorado have been diagnosed with bird flu, health officials confirmed Sunday.

The new cases bring the U.S. total to nine since the first human case of the current outbreak was detected in 2022, also in a Colorado poultry worker. Eight of the nine were reported this year.

Their illnesses were relatively mild — reddened and irritated eyes and common respiratory infection symptoms like fever, chills, coughing, sore throat and runny nose. None were hospitalized, officials said. The other U.S. cases have also been mild.

A fifth person with symptoms is undergoing testing, but those results are not back yet, officials said. The workers were culling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado, according to state health officials. All had direct contact with infected birds.

A bird flu virus has been spreading since 2020 among mammals — including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even seals and porpoises — in scores of countries. Earlier this year the virus, known as H5N1, was detected in U.S. livestock, and is now circulating in cattle in several states.

Health officials continue to characterize the threat to the general public as low and the virus has not spread between people. But officials are keeping careful watch, because earlier versions of the same virus have been deadly to people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent a nine-person team to Colorado to help in the investigation, at the state’s request, CDC officials said.

This cases earlier this year were among dairy farm workers in Michigan, Texas and Colorado.

The virus detected in the four latest cases is least partly identical to the type found in the earlier U.S. cases, but further genetic analysis is underway to make sure it’s exactly the same, officials said.

As of Friday, the H5N1 virus has been confirmed in 152 dairy herds in 12 states, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Hundreds of commercial poultry flocks in more than 30 states have reported H5N1 or other types of bird flu.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.