Bogus 'Tiger' Sighting Alarms New Mexico Town
A mountain biker reportedly put a picture of it on social media.
— -- This is one tiger that caused an uproar in New Mexico.
A mountain biker took a blurry photo of what looks to be a tiger in the Sandia National Forest near Tijeras, New Mexico, ABC affiliate KOAT reported.
The photo, blurry but still convincing to many on social media, showed a black and orange animal in front of some trees.
The tiger in the woods, showing its fangs, was plastic.
The Bernalillo County Animal Care Services even issued an alert about the reported sighting, warning hikers to be “extremely careful” in the East Mountains and call 911 if they spotted the alleged jungle cat.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish — which did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for additional comment — went to investigate the report and didn't find what they had expected.
“Artificial tiger captured! This plastic beast will be of no harm to anyone,” the department wrote on Facebook. “We can all rest easy now!”
The Sandia Ranger District told KOAT the plastic tiger has been on the trail for years and has now been thrown away.