CU's 'Ralphie' Is Alive After Severed Bison Head Found In Boulder

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - The mystery of a buffalo head which was found in the front yard of a Boulder residence has been solved.

Residents at a home in the 900 block of 18th Street found the severed head early Sunday morning. At first they had no idea who was responsible.

"The head belongs to a resident who lives in the home where the head was found. He recently visited a buffalo ranch in Nebraska … and was given the buffalo head as a souvenir," Kim Kobel with Boulder police said. "The head was from a buffalo that was slaughtered at the ranch as part of a yearly process to thin the herd. The owner was drying the head in his backyard so that he could later display it on a wall."

Kobel said the owner didn't notice that the head was missing and called police when he saw media reports.

Police were concerned that it may have been a prank involving University of Colorado mascot, Ralphie. However, school officials say Ralphie is safe.