Denver’s Parks and Recreation Division officials do not believe that a small container of rat poison found in Cheesman Park on Saturday was left there to intentionally harm dogs.
On Friday night, the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife notified Denver Parks that there was evidence of poison in the park, said Angela Casias, spokeswoman for Denver’s Parks and Recreation Division.
Rangers searched and found the small container of rodenticide in the northeast corner of the park. They also found five or six dead squirrels in the area. They may have ingested the poison, and are being tested to confirm if the substance was in their system when they died.
“We don’t think there is any malicious intent in it being left there,” Casias said. “We do not believe it was left there for dogs.”
No one has reported that a dog ingested the substance. On Saturday and Sunday, rangers warned people in the park about the poison.
No additional poisons have been found in the park.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794 or jsteffen@denverpost.com
