Stolen Yukon antler carving found after 7-month absence

Whitehorse RCMP say they have recovered a $50,000 carved skull and antler sculpture that was stolen in September from the city's Canada Games Centre.

A person "who wishes to remain anonymous" contacted RCMP on Tuesday about the location of Shane Wilson's Yukon Seasons, according to a police news release Thursday.

Wilson had donated the work — an entire moose skull and antler set with northern imagery carved into it — to the Yukon's permanent art collection.

It was put on display at the Canada Games Centre, where it was stolen Sept. 15 during an early morning power outage.

Wilson, who received the good news Wednesday from the Yukon government's arts branch, said he had never fully recovered from the disappearance of his carving.

"It took three years of my life to create the thing — that's probably a good reason right there," Wilson told CBC News Thursday from Nanaimo, B.C., where he now lives.

"I put so much of myself into it that it's like recovering a piece of oneself."

Part of the carving was broken off when it was stolen, Wilson said, adding that he has heard the item appears somewhat darker overall than it was before. All of that can be fixed, he said.

Police said they believe the person who returned Yukon Seasons was not involved in the theft. Investigators are seeking the public's help in identifying the thief.