A beaver sculpture and an accompanying historical plaque are missing along a fur-trading route in Rose Valley Borough, writes Robert Moran for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Pennsylvania State Police wants the public’s help to find the sculpture.

It marks a fur-trading route used by native people and colonists during the 17th century.

“The Great Trail” marker was made by the same artist who made the “Billy” goat sculpture in Rittenhouse Square and the “Penguins” sculpture at the Philadelphia Zoo. Artist Albert Laessle also taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

The Rose Valley Borough Beaver sculpture was placed at the intersection of Rose Valley Road and Traymore Lane in 1926, to mark the Great Minquas Path, a route used for trading fur with the Susquehannock people, also known as the Minquas.

The Great Minquas Path ran from the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County to the Schuylkill in Philadelphia.

A $5,000 reward is being offered by Rose Valley Borough for recovery of the sculpture and plaque.

Read more in The Philadelphia Inquirer about this missing beaver statue.