A missing handgun that was reported by an elk hunter on the Baca National Wildlife Refuge in San Luis Valley, Colorado, was quickly recovered thanks to the coordinated efforts of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service canine team.
On October 18, 2026, Federal Wildlife Officer McDonald received a report from an elk hunter who had crashed his bicycle while hunting on the refuge. After the accident, the hunter discovered that his handgun was missing and was unable to locate it despite searching the area.
After the hunter reported the incident, FWO McDonald requested immediate assistance from Federal Wildlife Canine Officer Patterson and her K9 partner, Badger. The team traveled from Denver to the San Luis Valley and met McDonald near the approximate location of the bicycle wreck.
Once on scene, FWCO Patterson and K9 Badger conducted a half-mile track and article search. In approximately 20 minutes, the K9 team successfully located the missing firearm, bringing the search to a swift and successful conclusion.
The recovery highlights the value of teamwork and the effectiveness of trained K9 resources in the field. Without the rapid response of the officers and the exceptional tracking ability of K9 Badger, the firearm may have remained lost for an extended period and potentially fallen into the wrong hands.
