Mystery of Colorado bison missing for decades finally solved | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload ourSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleErin KellerThursday 09 October 2025 01:09 BSTRelated: Bison Crossing in Yellowstone National ParkA 650-pound taxidermied bison, missing for 50 years from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS), has finally been located.The bison, part of an original set acquired by naturalist Edwin Carter, had become a legendary mystery among museum employees over the decades.New DMNS staffer Natalie Patton, after hearing about the missing mount, later identified it at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Golden.Its identity was confirmed by DMNS collections manager Andrew Doll and curator Rebecca Jacobs through a distinctive horn gouge visible in historical photographs.The bison has been safely returned to the DMNS Avenir Collections Center, where it is now housed alongside its four 'sibling' mounts, with potential for future public display.In fullDenver museum gets its massive 650-pound stolen buffalo back - 50 years after it went missingThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in