Elk killed illegally

Residents of a Telluride community were upset to learn that poaching had occurred in their neighborhood, and they need your help.

Those in the West Meadows subdivision were told that a poacher had killed an elk in their gated community. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say that someone shot and killed the elk with a rifle, removed its head, and left the rest of the carcass behind.

Poaching is a significant problem in the Centennial State. Officials from Colorado Parks and Wildlife want to remind everyone that they have an equal right to enjoy this wildlife legally, and that they have an obligation to speak up if they witness any poaching.

“It's very important for the public, if they see or they feel they may have seen some poaching activity (or) some illegal wildlife activity, it's very important for them to pick up the phone and either call one of our wildlife officers or call operation game thief” said Mike Porras, Public Information Officer for the NW Region of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

"it's just very important for everyone in Colorado to understand that wildlife belongs to them. When a poacher steals wildlife, when a poaching takes wildlife illegally, then they're stealing from them (and) they're stealing from all of us. So we all are in it together to do what we can to stop this illegal activity" explained Porras.

Poaching can take many forms, including something as simple as exceeding ones fishing limit or hunting animals for trophy parts and leaving the rest behind.

Officials believe that someone in the neighborhood may have seen some suspicious behavior. Those who have information about any poaching activities should call operation game thief at 877-265-6648.