Cattle mutilation#First modern mutilation

The earliest known documented outbreak of unexplained livestock deaths occurred in early 1606 "...about the city of London and some of the shires adjoining. Whole slaughters of sheep have been made, in some places to number 100, in others less, where nothing is taken from the sheep but their tallow and some inward parts, the whole carcasses, and fleece remaining still behind. "Of this sundry conjectures, but most agree that it tendeth towards some fireworks." The outbreak was noted in the official records of the Court of James I of England.{{cite book|last1=O'Brien|first1=Christopher|title=Stalking the Herd|year=2014|publisher=Adventures Unlimited Press|location=Kempton, IL|isbn=978-1-939149-06-0|page=50|edition=1st }} Charles Fort collected many accounts of cattle mutilations that occurred in England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

{{Main|Mutilation of "Snippy" the horse}}

File:Snippy the Horse 1967.jpg

Unexplained livestock deaths were relatively unknown until 1967, when the Pueblo Chieftain published a story about a horse called "Snippy" that was mysteriously found mutilated in Alamosa, Colorado.

On September 9, 1967, Agnes King and her son Harry reportedly found the dead body of their three-year-old horse. The horse's head and neck had been skinned and defleshed, and the body displayed cuts that, to King, looked very precise. No blood was at the scene, according to Harry, and a strong medicinal odor was in the air.

The story was republished by the wider press and distributed nationwide; this case was the first to feature speculation that extraterrestrial beings and unidentified flying objects were associated with mutilation.David R. Saunders and R. Roger Harkins; UFO's? Yes! Where the Condon Committee Went Wrong; World Publishing, 1969 {{ASIN|B0006BX12W}}{{page needed|date=January 2022}} A subsequent investigation by Wadsworth Ayer for the Condon Committee (Case #32) concluded that "There was no evidence to support the assertion that the horse's death was associated in any way to abnormal causes".

Alamosa County Sheriff Ben Phillips suggested that the death was probably due to "a lightning strike" and never bothered to visit the site. Early press coverage of the case misnamed Lady as Snippy. Snippy was Lady's sire and belonged to Nellie's husband, Berle Lewis. Later press coverage mentions that the horse had been shot "in the rump".{{cite web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/12/08/town-gets-snippy-about-skeleton-of-mutilated-horse/ |title=Town gets Snippy about skeleton of mutilated horse |first=Rich |last=Tosches |date=8 December 2006 |publisher=The Denver Post |access-date=2017-12-20}} However, two students from Alamosa State College confessed to sneaking out into the pasture and shooting the horse several weeks after the case was publicized.

Waves of cattle mutilations were reported in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico.

In April 1973, sheriffs in Western Iowa reported unidentified helicopters involved in cattle and pig rustling.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-state-help-pledg/146460485/|title=State Help Pledge in Rash of Cattle Rustling|work=The Des Moines Register |date=April 6, 1973|pages=11|via=newspapers.com}} In August, similar rustling was reported in Missouri and authorities warned farmers not to fire on helicopters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal-use-of-helicopter-susp/146460562/|title=Use of Helicopter Suspected in Area Rustling and Farm Thefts|work=The Daily Journal |date=August 17, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal-patrol-warns-not-to-fi/146460631/|title=Patrol Warns Not To Fire On Unidentified Helicopters|work=The Daily Journal |date=September 18, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-montanans-seek-helic/146460721/|title=Montanans Seek Helicopter Which May Carry Rustlers|work=The Idaho Statesman |date=September 29, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/08/archives/copters-spotted-in-hog-rustling-plane-is-needed.html|title=COPTERS SPOTTED IN HOG RUSTLING|work=The New York Times |date=April 8, 1973|via=NYTimes.com}}

On June 10, 1973, Cloud County sheriff Fred Modlin warned the public about a series of telephone calls from a caller identifying as a USDA official conducting a survey of herd population and locations. After the USDA denied such a survey, Modlin advised that the calls might be coming from rustlers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/44006899/|title=Jun 10, 1973, page 18 - The Salina Journal at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}

On June 14, a 700-pound heifer was found butchered on the Ray Vizner farm near Munden, Kansas. Its right ear had reported been removed and right rear quarter butchered; Republic County sheriff Bob Blecha argue the death was not the work of predators.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/125945291/|title=Heifer Butchered Near Munden|work=The Belleville Telescope |date=June 14, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}} Two weeks later, on June 18, a second butchered cow was found on the Lowell Darcy farm, twenty miles away from the first butchered cow; Like the first, its right ear was removed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/127120775/|title=Butcher Strikes County Cattle For Second Time|work=The Belleville Telescope |date=June 28, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}} Local press initially speculated about a 'Mad Dog' or 'phantom' Butcher.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/6155866/|title=Cattle Mutilations in Nebraska, S.D. As Puzzling As Those in Republic County|work=The Belleville Telescope |date=October 17, 1974|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}} On August 9, a third butchered cow was found, this one in South County.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/129588174/|title=Crazed Butcher Slaughters Third Animal in Two Months|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=August 9, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}} On August 30, a fourth butchered cow was reported, this one on the Larry LeBlanc farm south of St. Joseph in Cloud County; the right ear was again removed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/130529258/|title='Mad Dog Butcher' carves 500-Pound Steer by St. Joe|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=August 30, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/great-bend-tribune-golden-belt-nuggets/146404360/|title=Golden Belt Nuggets|newspaper=Great Bend Tribune |date=September 4, 1973|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}}

On October 25, three cows in Harvey County were discovered with their sex organs removed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-slain-cattle-discovere/146452587/|title=Slain Cattle Discovered Near Newton|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |date=October 26, 1973|pages=5|via=newspapers.com}} On November 15, press reported a slain cow on the Don Peter farm near Munden, the seventh animal death attributed to the "butcher".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/134514564/|title=Mad Dog Butcher Carves Up Seventh Animal Near Munden|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=November 15, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}} The November 22 issue of the Belleville Telescope again referenced the "Mad Dog Cattle Butcher".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope-mad-dog-cattle/146453111/|title=Mad Dog Cattle Butcher|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=November 22, 1973|pages=9|via=newspapers.com}}

File:Cattle Mutilations by county in Kansas and Nebraska - December 13 1973.png

On December 4, 1973, law enforcement including Modlin reported a wave of cattle deaths in seven counties across Kansas and Nebraska.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94287533/area-lawmen-will-discuss-cattle-deaths/|title = Area lawmen will discuss cattle deaths|newspaper = The Salina Journal|date = 4 December 1973|page = 9}} Sexual organs were reported having been removed. An upcoming meeting on the mutilations was announced.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal-area-lawmen-will-disc/94287533/|title=Area lawmen will discuss cattle deaths|newspaper=The Salina Journal |date=December 4, 1973|pages=9|via=newspapers.com}} On December 6, a killing on the Lavern Hiner farm in Cloud County was reported to be the butcher's ninth.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope-butchering-cont/146454463/|title=Butchering Continues In Cloud County Near Glasco|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=December 6, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}} By December 13, Kansas law enforcement reported having investigated total 40 mutilations, most occurring on land near US Highway 81.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope-law-baffled-by/146459657/|title=Law Baffled by Pasture Slaughters, Evidence and Motive are Lacking|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=December 13, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-times-kansas-cattle-muti/121040580/ | title=Kansas Cattle Mutilations 1973 | newspaper=The Kansas City Times | date=22 December 1973 | page=1 }} On December 20, State Senator Ross Doyen reported a cattle mutilation on his ranch.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-times-kansas-cattle-muti/121040580/|title=Kansas Cattle Mutilations 1973|newspaper=The Kansas City Times |date=December 22, 1973|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}

On December 22, the Kansas Brand Commissioner's office determined that most of the deaths and removal of sex organs were the result of natural causes including predation, "shipping fever" and blackleg.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94287852/cattle-mutilations-discounted/|title = Cattle Mutilations Discounted|newspaper = The Parsons Sun|date = 22 December 1973|page = 4}} Modlin and others vocally disagreed with these conclusion and denied that local ranchers would mutilate dead animals for insurance money, calling them "honest and respectable".{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/44034157|title=Dec 21, 1973, page 1 - The Salina Journal at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}

Reports resumed in April 1974, when a Nebraska cow was discovered mutilated and drained of blood.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal/6150470/|title=Another Cattle Mutilation Case is Discovered|newspaper=The Salina Journal |date=April 8, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}} That month, the North American Newspaper Alliance reported on the 1973 mutilations along with sightings of unidentified helicopters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/124054840/|title=Cow Mutilation in Nebraska Similar to Those in NCK Area|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=April 11, 1974|pages=18|via=newspapers.com}}

In May, two mutilations were reported in Mills County, Iowa; An AP story argued coyotes were responsible.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/mexico-ledger-cattle-mutilations-coyoter/146387501/|title=Cattle Mutilations Coyoters, Not Witches|newspaper=Mexico Ledger |date=May 13, 1974|pages=4|via=newspapers.com}} By June 1974, mutilations were reported in Lancaster County, Nebraska.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-cow-mutilation-repo/94287673/|title=Cow Mutilation Reported|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=June 13, 1974|pages=33|via=newspapers.com}} Custer Country reported similar helicopter sightings and armed patrols.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/6155062/|title=Devil Worship Fires Debate in Cattle Mutilations |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=August 23, 1974|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/124057631/|title=Cattle Deaths Due to Rustlers, Coyote or Cultists -- They Weave Weird Tale|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=July 18, 1974|pages=8|via=newspapers.com}} On August 14, 1974, the Cascade County, Montana Sheriff's Office received its first report of a mutilated cow.Donovan and Wolverton, 1977{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2024}}

On August 20, press reported a "new twist" in the mutilations: Days prior, near Agnew, Nebraska, an unidentified helicopter had been spotted hovering 400 feet above where a mutilated cow would later be discovered. The helicopter was reported shining a spotlight into the field; FAA and National Guard reported no knowledge of helicopters operating in the area. Knox County Sheriff Herbert Thompson reported that armed civilians had begun patrols in response to repeated helicopter sightings. Cloud County Attorney William Walsh told press of a jailhouse informant who claimed to be a former cult member and opined the mutilations were likely the result of devil-worshiping cultists. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Brand Inspectors were reported to lean toward predators as the cause.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/107314554/|title=Devil Worship Fires Debate in Cattle Mutilations|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=August 23, 1974|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}} Amid the cattle mutilation jitters and drought, Oakland, Nebraska experienced as spate of "beast" sightings as residents feared an unidentified noisy night-time animal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/522969909|title=Aug 23, 1974, page 1 - Fremont Tribune at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}} State Sen. John Decamp called on authorities to coordinate an investigation into the mutilations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/beatrice-daily-sun/145924660/|title=Cattle mutilation "must be stopped"|newspaper=Beatrice Daily Sun |date=August 27, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star-decamp-asks-probe-into/94288444/|title=DeCamp Asks Probe Into Cattle Mutilations|newspaper=The Lincoln Star |date=August 27, 1974|pages=22|via=newspapers.com}}

As on August 28, there had been 25 mutilations reported across five Nebraska counties.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal/145925139/|title=Mutilation-Slayings of Cattle Puzzle Nebraska Authorities |newspaper=Sioux City Journal |date=August 28, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}}

On August 28, press reported that a rancher near Hartington had apparently thwarted a mutilation in progress when he found a helicopter above his field was spotted by a neighbor who summoned the sheriff; All three reportedly witnessed the helicopter as well as a car that also seen shining a spotlight into the field. The following morning, a dead cow was found near where the helicopter had been spotted, but the cow had not been mutilated.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/145925263/|title=Apparent Mutilation Attempt Thwarted|newspaper=The Lincoln Star |date=August 28, 1974|pages=5|via=newspapers.com}} Authorities cautioned the public not to shoot at aircraft.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-helicopter-users-ta/146390684/|title=Helicopter Users Talk About Scare|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=August 29, 1974|pages=19|via=newspapers.com}} On September 5, it was reported that authorities had ordered helicopters to fly above 1000 feet after a commercial helicopter took two bullets during a power line inspection.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/145925569/|title=Helicopters to Avoid Frightened Ranchers|newspaper=The Lincoln Star |date=September 5, 1974|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}

On September 11, a supposedly-mutilated cow was revealed at autopsy to have died of natural causes, i.e. bacterial infection. It was the third such mutilation disproved by authorities as the University of Nebraska's Department of Veterinary Science.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-cattle-mutilation-r/146395955/|title=Cattle Mutilation Refuted in Autopsy|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=September 11, 1974|pages=49|via=newspapers.com}} On September 17, over 50 law enforcement officials from 24 counties attended a meeting at the Knox County Courthouse in Center, Nebraska to discuss the mutilations. Participants, who dismissed the cult theory, estimated that out of 80 cow deaths under discussion, about 27 were suspected mutilations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ames-tribune/6155232/|title=Cult theory in cattle mutilations wanes|newspaper=Ames Tribune |date=September 18, 1974|pages=29|via=newspapers.com}}

On September 19, press reported three cases of alleged mutilations in South Dakota: Two in Moody County and one in Lake County.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal/145927133/|title=Cattle Mutilation in Moody Probed|newspaper=Sioux City Journal |date=September 19, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}} On the advice of the Sheriff, patrols were organized and farmers were instructed to check their herds every 12 hours.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal/145928066/|title=Farmers Check Herds in Wake of Mutilations|newspaper=Sioux City Journal |date=September 20, 1974|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}} On September 30, papers reported on an unusual cow death where the animal was shot with a firearm, incised, and set aflame with fuel oil. Unlike other cases, removed body parts were left on site and no parts of the animal were taken.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-humans-blamed-in-s/146397073/|title=Human's Blamed in Steer's Death|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=September 30, 1974|pages=8|via=newspapers.com}}

In the September 30, 1974 issue of Newsweek, the magazine became the first national outlet to cover the ongoing mutilation story; Its story reported 100 cattle mutilated in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa since May.Stalking the Herd incorrectly lists Newsweek's publication year as 1973 rather than 1974.

On October 2, 1974, South Dakota Attorney General Kermit Sande told press that a number of mutilations had been reported in the state.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times-south-dakota-cattle-muti/146337505/|title=South Dakota Cattle mutilated|newspaper=St. Cloud Times |date=October 4, 1974|pages=7|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-livestock-reporter/145931965/|title=Cattle Mutilations Continue|newspaper=Western Livestock Reporter |date=October 24, 1974|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-livestock-reporter/145932061/|title=Cattle Mutilations Continue|newspaper=Western Livestock Reporter |date=October 24, 1974|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-cattle-mutilations-reported/146337426/|title=Cattle mutilations reported in S.D.|newspaper=Star Tribune |date=October 3, 1974|pages=39|via=newspapers.com}} Mutilations had been reported in three counties, and a psychiatrist argued the person responsible might be psychotic.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-state-acts-on-cattle/146397358/|title=State Acts on Cattle Death; Mutilator Psychotic Says Yankton Mental Unit Officer|newspaper=Sioux City Journal |date=October 3, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}} After five mutilations were reported in Day County, a $500 reward was offered.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-reward-offered-by-bee/146398599/|title=Reward Offered By Beef Group|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald |date=October 4, 1974|pages=43|via=newspapers.com}}

It was reported that UFO conspiracy theorists considered cattle mutilations might be related to flying saucers;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94288615/he-ran-for-gun-as-saucer-hovered-cont/|title = He Ran for Gun as Saucer Hovered|newspaper = Lincoln Journal Star|date = 6 October 1974|page = 20}} On November 15, UFO expert J. Allen Hynek released a statement denying any link.{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2024}}

On December 2 1974, press reported on the Minnesota mutilations: two in Kandiyohi County, six in Swift County, and one in Meeker County. The Meeker animal was reportedly drained of blood.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times-cattle-mutilation-meeker/19256435/|title=Cattle mutilation Meeker Co 1974|newspaper=St. Cloud Times |date=December 2, 1974|pages=12|via=newspapers.com}} Between 1970 and 1974, twenty-two mutilated cattle were reported in Minnesota.

{{Location map+|USA West|width=150|float=right|relief=yes

|caption=The Snippy case occurred on the Harry King Ranch, located in Colorado's San Luis Valley near Alamosa.

|marksize=10|mark=Red_pog.svg

|places= {{Location map~|USA West|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=37|lat_min=28|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=105|lon_min=52|position=top|background=#FFFFFF|label=Alamosa}}

{{Location map~|USA West|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=36|lat_min=56|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=106|lon_min=59|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=Dulce}}

}}

In 1975, the Colorado Associated Press voted the mutilations as the state's top story.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-southwest/the-enduring-panic-about-cow-mutilations | title=The Enduring Panic About Cow Mutilations | magazine=The New Yorker | date=8 May 2023 | last1=Monroe | first1=Rachel }}

Senator Floyd K. Haskell contacted the FBI asking for help in 1975 due to public concern regarding the issue. He claimed there had been 130 mutilations in Colorado alone, and further reports across nine states.[http://vault.fbi.gov/Animal%20Mutilation/Animal%20Mutilation%20Part%201%20of%205/view Operation Cattle Mutilation, Section 1], FBI, Released under FOIA A 1979 FBI report indicated that, according to investigations by the New Mexico State Police, there had been an estimated 8,000 mutilations in Colorado, causing approximately $1 million in damages.[http://vault.fbi.gov/Animal%20Mutilation/Animal%20Mutilation%20Part%204%20of%205/view Operation Cattle Mutilation, Section 4] FBI report on cattle mutilations

In January 1975, the Michigan ATF tasked Donald E. Flickinger with investigating the mutilations; Flickinger investigated possible links to a "Hell-oriented biker gang".{{cite journal | url=https://doi.org/10.3098/ah.2011.85.3.398 | doi=10.3098/ah.2011.85.3.398 | title=Wave of Mutilation: The Cattle Mutilation Phenomenon of the 1970s | date=2011 | last1=Goleman | first1=Michael J. | journal=Agricultural History | volume=85 | issue=3 | pages=398–417 | pmid=21901905 }} In May 1975, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation under the leadership of Carl Whiteside.

In October 1975, the New York Times published a story examining cattle mutilations across 11 states.{{cite news |last=Lichtensteev |first=Grace |date=1975-10-30 |title=11 States Baffled by Mutilation of Cattle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/30/archives/11-states-baffled-by-mutilation-of-cattle.html |url-access=subscription |page=77 |work=The New York Times}}Specifically: Pennsylvania, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, Illinois, Wisconsin and California.

On June 13, 1976, Dulce rancher Manuel Gomez reported a mutilation to Officer Gabe Valdez of the New Mexico State Patrol.

File:Sen Harrison Schmitt.jpg

On April 20, 1979, U.S. Attorney R. E. Thompson and US Senator Harrison Schmidt held a public meeting about cattle mutilations. The meeting was attended by about 80 people. One attendee was Paul Bennewitz, who approached Valdez and reported having seen unidentified lights over Kirtland Air Force Base.Mirage Men,Ch 11, p. 87-88

On May 2, 1979, Valdez told press that two drugs had been found in the remains of a mutilated bull found in Torrance County on February 15.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-police-find-dru/127526346/ | title=The Santa Fe New Mexican 02 May 1979, page 9 | newspaper=The Santa Fe New Mexican | date=2 May 1979 | page=9 }} Valdez reported one drug, Chlorpromazine (Thorazine), was used to tranquilize and immobilize the animal, while a second, unnamed drug was used to "clog the blood and remove it through the jugular vein." Valdez told papers "We know this stuff is made here, and it isn't from outer space. Whoever is doing it is highly sophisticated, and they have a lot of resources. They're well organized". Valdez was described as "the state's chief information source on mutilations, having worked on 32 cases... in about three years".

On June 14, 1981, investigators found a mutilated cow at the Gomez ranch with a large amount of radar chaff nearby.O'Brein

Many cases of mutilation have been reported worldwide since the 1967 Snippy incident, chiefly in the Americas and Australia. In South America, an estimated 3,500 incidents have occurred since 2002, when around 400 cases were reported.{{cite book|last1=O'Brien|first1=Christopher|title=Stalking the Herd|date=2014|publisher=Adventures Unlimited Press|location=Kempton, IL|isbn=978-1-939149-06-0|page=438}} Mutilation investigators assert that a large number of cases are never reported to authorities, perhaps no more than one in ten.{{cite book|last1=O'Brien|first1=Christopher|title=Stalking the Herd|date=2014|publisher=Adventures Unlimited Press|location=Kempton, IL|isbn=978-1-939149-06-0|page=547}}

In 1993, photographic evidence surfaced of a mutilated male human corpse that was found near the Guarapiranga reservoir of São Paulo, Brazil in 1988. The victim's identity was kept private. Theories ranged from a mundane criminal act of homicide, to more fantastical speculation alleging alien abduction due to perceived similarities with UFO-related animal mutilations. An autopsy report concluded the wounds occurred while the victim was still alive, and the associated pain resulted in cardiac arrest. However, another independent investigation later concluded that he died from natural causes.Сlaudeir Covo, Paola Lucherini Covo, Tânia da Cunha «O Caso Guarapiranga». Instituto Nacional de Investigação de Fenômenos Aeroespaciais, 2004.

Cattle death due to natural causes are extremely common; In Minnesota, where mutilations first began, nearly 2 million head of cattle were lost during 1973.Kagan & Summers 1984, p.xiv That year, ranchers began reporting dozens of unusual cattle deaths characterized by absence of sex organs, udders, tongues, anus, rectum, and sometimes ears or eyes.Kagan & Summers 1984, p.xv

Cuts were described as "clean" and "surgical". Some animals were reported to have been drained of blood but with no sign of blood in the immediate area or even around their wounds.[http://www.earthfiles.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1096&category=Environment First Pregnant Cow Mutilation Discovered] (February 13, 2006), Earthfiles{{better|date=April 2024}}

According to Howard Burgess, nearly 90 percent of mutilated cattle are between four and five years old.Good Timothy, Alien contact: top-secret UFO files revealed, William Morrow & Co., {{ISBN|0-688-12223-X}}{{page needed|date=January 2022}}

In some cases, strange marks or imprints near the site have been found. In the famous "Snippy" case, there was an absolute absence of tracks in a {{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} radius of the carcass (even the horse's own tracks disappeared within {{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} of the body.) But within this radius, several small holes were found seemingly "punched" in the ground and two bushes were absolutely flattened.{{cite book |last=Rommel Jr |first=Kenneth M. |year=1980 |title=Operation Animal Mutilation |pages=172–175 |oclc=6799836}} In Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, June 1976, a "trail of suction cup-like impressions" was found leading from a mutilated three-year-old cow. The indentations were in a tripod form, {{convert|4|in|cm}} in diameter, {{convert|28|in|cm}} apart, and disappeared {{convert|500|ft|m}} from the dead cow. Similar incidents were reported in the area in 1978.{{cite book |last=Rommel Jr |first=Kenneth M. |year=1980 |title=Operation Animal Mutilation |pages=12–13 |oclc=6799836}}The Albuquerque Tribune, June 15, 1976{{Full citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Laboratory reports carried out on some mutilated animals have shown unusually high or low levels of vitamins or minerals in tissue samples, and the presence of chemicals not normally found in animals. However, not all mutilated animals display these anomalies, and those that do have slightly different anomalies from one another. On account of the time between death and necropsy, and a lack of background information on specific cattle, investigators have often found it impossible to determine if these variations are connected to the animals' deaths or not.

In one case documented by New Mexico police and the FBI, an 11-month-old cross Hereford-Charolais bull, belonging to a Mr. Manuel Gomez of Dulce, New Mexico, was found mutilated on March 24, 1978. It displayed "classic" mutilation signs, including the removal of the rectum and sex organs with what appeared to be "a sharp and precise instrument" and its internal organs were found to be inconsistent with a normal case of death followed by predation.

{{blockquote|Both the liver and the heart were white and mushy. Both organs had the texture and consistency of peanut butter|Gabriel L Valdez, New Mexico Police}}

The animal's heart as well as bone and muscle samples were sent to the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory for microscopic and bacteriological studies, while samples from the animal's liver were sent to two separate private laboratories.

Los Alamos detected the presence of naturally occurring Clostridium bacteria in the heart, but was unable to reach any conclusions because of the possibility that the bacteria represented postmortem contamination. No microscopic changes of pathological significance were found in the heart tissue.

Samples from the animal's liver were found to be completely devoid of copper and to contain 4 times the normal level of zinc, potassium and phosphorus. The scientists performing the analysis were unable to explain these anomalies.

Blood samples taken at the scene were reported to be "light pink in color" and "Did not clot after several days" while the animal's hide was found to be unusually brittle for a fresh death (the animal was estimated to have been dead for 5 hours) and the flesh underneath was found to be discolored.

None of the laboratories were able to report any firm conclusions on the cause of the blood or tissue damage. At the time, it was suggested that a burst of radiation may have been used to kill the animal, blowing apart its red blood cells in the process. This hypothesis was later discarded as subsequent reports from the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory later confirmed the presence of anti-coagulants in samples taken from other cows mutilated in the region.

On July 15, 1974, two unregistered helicopters, a white helicopter and a black twin-engine aircraft were reported to have opened fire on Robert Smith Jr. while he was driving his tractor on his farm in Honey Creek, Iowa. This attack followed a rash of alleged mutilations in the area and across the nearby border in Nebraska.{{cite book |last=Rommel Jr |first=Kenneth M. |year=1980 |title=Operation Animal Mutilation |pages=22–23 |oclc=6799836}}{{cite book |last=Albers |first=Michael D. |title=The Terror |date=1979 |pages=13–15 |publisher=Manor Books |isbn=978-0532233114}}W. Smith, Fredrick, Cattle Mutilation, p. 21 In August 1974, state leaders called for an investigation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94288444/decamp-asks-probe-into-cattle-mutilation/|title = DeCamp Asks Probe into Cattle Mutilations|newspaper = The Lincoln Star|date = 27 August 1974|page = 22}}

On August 20, 1974, the Lincoln Journal Star reported that residents had seen unidentified helicopters shining spotlights into fields where mutilated cows were later found.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94288099/cow-mutilated-east-of-agnew/|title=Cow Mutilated East of Agnew|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|date=20 August 1974|page=25}} Know County Sheriff Herbert Thompson claimed helicopter sightings had become a nightly occurrence, with both the FAA and the National Guard reportedly being unaware of any helicopter activity. However, both Thompson and the Nebraska State Patrol found no definite connection between the cattle deaths and the helicopter sightings.

By 1975, the problem was so prevalent, that some ranchers formed armed vigilante groups to patrol their fields at night. Authorities ran ads in Colorado urging ranchers to not shoot at their survey helicopters.{{cite news |last1=Beedle |first1=Heidi |title=Colorado's cattle mutilation history and the journalist who wouldn't let it go |url=https://www.csindy.com/temporary_news/colorado-s-cattle-mutilation-history-and-the-journalist-who-wouldn-t-let-it-go/article_6769e632-2de0-5997-beda-9e12f9088bea.html |access-date=December 30, 2020 |publisher=Colorado Springs Indy |date=November 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010101038/https://www.csindy.com/temporary_news/colorado-s-cattle-mutilation-history-and-the-journalist-who-wouldn-t-let-it-go/article_6769e632-2de0-5997-beda-9e12f9088bea.html |url-status=dead }} The National Guard warned its helicopter pilots to fly at higher than normal altitude to avoid fire from "jittery farmers".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94288270/copter-pilots-told-fly-high/|title=Copter pilots told fly high|newspaper=Beatrice Daily Sun|date=5 September 1974|page=1}}

In 1976, two Cache County, Utah, police officers reportedly confronted several men in an unmarked U.S. Army helicopter at a small community airport in Cache County. The witnesses asserted that after this heated encounter, cattle mutilations in the region ceased for about five years. The story was first published in a 2002 report.Anonymous, [http://www.nidsci.org/pdf/cache_county_utahreport.pdf Report on Unusual Animal Injuries in Cache County, Utah] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222013047/http://www.nidsci.org/pdf/cache_county_utahreport.pdf |date=2005-12-22 }} (2002)

On April 8, 1979, three police officers in Dulce, New Mexico, reported a mysterious aircraft which resembled a U.S. military helicopter hovering around a site following a wave of alleged mutilation which claimed 16 cows. The reports of "helicopter" involvement have been used to explain why some cattle appear to have been "dropped" from considerable heights.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

The New Mexico Livestock Board sought assistance from the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents went undercover to investigate. Oklahoma convened a task force.

After coming under increasing public pressure, Federal authorities launched a comprehensive investigation of the mutilation phenomenon.{{cite web |url=http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/ufoanim.htm |title=Freedom of Information/Privacy Act |website=Federal Bureau of Investigation}}

In January 1975, the Minnesota field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) launched their own investigation into the phenomenon, headed by Agent Donald Flickinger.{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=Jerome |last2=Pear |first2=Nancy |year=1997 |title=Strange and unexplained phenomena |publisher=Visible Ink Press |isbn=978-0787627645 |oclc=40367396}}{{page needed|date=January 2022}} Flickinger was tasked with investigating the possible connections between cults and the mutilation of cattle.{{page needed|date=January 2022}}{{rp|23}}

Flickinger recorded a number of "unusual" incidents and circumstantial evidence, but was unable to find sufficient evidence of cult involvement for the ATF to take further action.{{page needed|date=January 2022}} Media reports of the time reported his investigation was dropped when it was determined cattle deaths were not a prelude to a coordinated campaign against elected officials by cult members.{{rp|23}} During the investigation, Flickinger arranged for two prison informants to be transferred to less-secure facilities; both ultimately escaped, on separate occasions. Flickinger closed his investigation by Spring 1975.{{cite journal | doi=10.3098/ah.2011.85.3.398 | title=Wave of Mutilation: The Cattle Mutilation Phenomenon of the 1970s | date=2011 | last1=Goleman | first1=Michael J. | journal=Agricultural History | volume=85 | issue=3 | pages=398–417 | pmid=21901905 }}

In May 1975, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation under the leadership of Carl Whiteside. 19 animals underwent necropsies at Colorado State University but no conclusive results emerged. A $40,000 reward was offered. The US Bureau of Land Management was forced to ground all helicopters in Eastern Colorado. By December, the CBI had investigated 203 reports of cattle mutilations. The CBI investigation was closed after Colorado mutiliation reports dwindled in Summer 1976.

On June 13, 1976, the New Mexico State Police{{fact|date=May 2024}} began an investigation, headed by Officer Gabe Valdez with the assistance of Cattle Inspector Jim Dyad and Officer Howard Johnston of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Valdez began investigating and solicited the assistance of retired Sandia National Laboratories scientist Howard Burgess. On the night of July 5, suspecting that cattle might be "marked" in a way detectable from the air at night, Burgess and Valdez screened the Gomez herd; five animals were found to have been marked with a chemical that fluoresced under ultraviolet light.Valdez, p.23{{better source needed|date=April 2024}}

On June 14, 1981, intact radar chaff was found near a mutilated cow on the Gomez ranch.Valdez, p. 28

This investigation reported finding evidence that some mutilated animals had been tranquilized and treated with an anti-coagulant prior to their mutilation. It also contended that alleged surgical techniques performed during mutilations had become "more professional" over time.{{rp|13}} However, officers in charge were unable to determine responsibility or motive.

Despite repeated requests from US Senator Haskell, the FBI declined to investigate, arguing there was no evidence of crossing state lines and thus no federal jurisdiction. In lieu of a federal investigation, a federally funded investigation was conducted under the direction of the New Mexico District Attorney's office.

Beginning in May 1979, an investigation was funded by a $44,170 grant ({{Inflation|US|44170|1979|r=-2|fmt=eq}}) from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, and was headed by recently-retired FBI agent Kenneth Rommel. It had five key objectives:

1. To determine the reliability of the information on which the grant was based, which entailed gathering as much information as possible about the cases reported in New Mexico prior to May 1979
2. To determine the cause of as many mutilations as possible, especially those reported in New Mexico
3. To determine if livestock mutilations as described constitute a major law enforcement problem
4. If these mutilations do constitute a major law enforcement problem, to determine the scope of the problem and to offer recommendations on how to deal with it
5. If it is shown that the mutilation phenomenon is not a law enforcement problem, to recommend that no further law enforcement investigations be funded.

Rommel's final report, released in June 1980, was 297 pages long; in the report's introduction, Rommel stated: "According to some estimates, by 1979 10,000 head of cattle have been mysteriously mutilated". However, the report concluded that the mutilations were predominantly the result of natural predation, but that some cases contained anomalies that could not be accounted for by conventional wisdom. The FBI was unable to identify any individuals responsible for the mutilations. Details of the investigation are now available under the Freedom of Information Act. The released material includes correspondence from Rommel where he states that "most credible sources have attributed this damage to normal predator and scavenger activity".[http://vault.fbi.gov/Animal%20Mutilation/Animal%20Mutilation%20Part%205%20of%205/view Animal Mutilation Project] FBI correspondence, 1980

New Mexico State patrolman Gabe Valdez, who by the time of the Rommel report had investigated dozens of mutilation cases, told investigator Christopher O'Brien that "during the six to eight months when Rommel was actively investigating the mutilations in New Mexico, the state (especially the northern tier) became suddenly quiet with very few (if any) true mutilations being reported to officials". Valdez was convinced that Rommel never was able to investigate a single genuine mutilation because the mutilators moved their operations to other parts of the west. Rommel (a former FBI bank robbery expert) was disgusted by dead necrotic cows and chose to let others do the actual investigations while he waited upwind in the car.{{cite book |last1=O'Brien |first1=Christopher |title=Stalking the Herd |year= 2014 |publisher=Adventures Unlimited Press |location=Kempton, IL |isbn=978-1-939149-06-0 |page=284}}

Western Canada, during this period, was especially hard hit. During the six to eight months of Rommel's investigation, RCMP investigator Corporal Lyn Lauber of the Calgary detachment (who was in charge of the Canadian mutilation probe) investigated numerous mutilation cases. When Rommel's final report was released to the public, Lauber answered an inquiry by investigator Tommy Bland: "I find it difficult to understand how Rommel could make a statement such as this, without ever having personally witnessed a [real] mutilation firsthand". He also stated that "I would like to see Rommel write off our confirmed cases as due to predators".{{cite book |last1=O'Brien |first1=Christopher |title=Stalking the Herd |year= 2014 |publisher=Adventures Unlimited Press |location=Kempton, IL |isbn=978-1-939149-06-0 |pages=282–283 |edition=1st}}

As with most disputed phenomena, there are a number of potential explanations for the causes of cattle mutilations, ranging from death by natural causes to purposeful acts by unknown individuals.

On April 20, 1979, C Hibbs of the New Mexico State Veterinary diagnostics Laboratory spoke before a hearing chaired by Senator Harrison Schmitt. Hibbs testified that mutilation fell into three categories: Natural causes such as predators, deaths caused by pranksters or deviants, and animals mutilated with "sharp instruments".{{rp|25}}

Image:Blowfly-head2.jpg

While many unconventional explanations have been put forward to explain cattle mutilations, a variety of scientists, veterinary workers, and knowledgeable observers (including farmers and other agricultural workers) have suggested more conventional ideas, most of which revolve around the hypothesis that "mutilated" animals died of natural causes and were subjected to known terrestrial phenomena – including the action of predators, parasites, and scavengers.Carroll Robert T, [http://www.skepdic.com/cattle.html Skeptic's Dictionary: Cattle Mutilation] (September 2006)

Missing or mutilated mouth, lips, anus, and genitalia are explained as:

• Contraction of missing/damaged areas due to dehydration.
• The actions of small scavengers and burrowing parasites seeking to enter or consume the body in areas where skin is at its thinnest.

Missing/mutilated eyes and soft internal organs are explained as:

• The action of carrion feeding insects such as blowflies, and opportunistic or carrion birds such as vultures, which are known to direct themselves toward an animal's eyes, and to enter the body through the openings of the mouth and anus in order to feed on soft internal organs.

Absence of blood is explained as:

• Blood pooling in the lowest points in the body where it will break down into its basic organic components.
• Blood that is external to the body, or in the area of a wound being consumed by insects or reduced by solar desiccation.

Surgical incisions in the skin are explained as:

• Tears in the skin created when it is stretched by postmortem bloat and/or as dehydration causes the animal's hide to shrink and split, often in linear cuts.
• Incisions caused by scavengers or predators, possibly exacerbated by the above.

The hypothesis that natural phenomena account for most mutilation characteristics has been validated by a number of experiments, including one cited by long-time scientific skeptic Robert T. Carroll, conducted by Washington County (Arkansas) Sheriff's Office. In the experiment, the body of a recently deceased cow was left in a field and observed for 48 hours. During the 48 hours, postmortem bloating was reported to have caused incision-like tears in the cow's skin that matched the "surgical" cuts reported on mutilated cows, while the action of blowflies and maggots reportedly matched the soft tissue damage observed on mutilated cows.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Experiments have also been conducted to compare the different reactions of surgically cut hide/flesh and predated hide/flesh to natural exposure.{{Cite thesis |title=Histological Changes in Bovine Skin Exposed to Natural Environmental Conditions |last1=Onet |first1=George E. |last2=Kelleher |first2=Colm |year=1997 |publisher=National Institute for Discovery Science |url=https://www.noufors.com/Documents/onet.pdf |place=Las Vegas, NV}} They demonstrated pronounced differences between surgical cuts and non surgical cuts over time.

Some ranchers have disputed the scientific "natural causes hypothesis" on the grounds that the mutilated animals often fall outside of the normal categories of natural deaths by predation or disease. One reason cited is that the animals were healthy and showed no sign of disease prior to death, and were large and strong enough not to be a likely target for a predator. In some cases, ranchers have reported that the mutilated cattle were among the healthiest and strongest animals in their herd.[http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1153566001/17 Costilla County officials probe cattle mutilation] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20070801062328/http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1153566001/17 |date=2007-08-01 }} (July 22, 2006), Pueblo Chieftain

{{see also|Macdonald triad}}

It is alternatively hypothesised that cattle mutilations are the result of two unrelated deviant phenomena. The bulk of mutilations are the result of predation and other natural processes, and those with anomalies that cannot be explained in this way are the work of humans who derive pleasure or sexual stimulation from mutilating animals. Lone individuals have attacked larger animals, including sheep, cows, and horses.[http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?channel_id=3&story_id=25281 Life term sought for killer, horse mutilator] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310223907/http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?channel_id=3&story_id=25281 |date=2007-03-10}}, Expatica, November 11, 2005 Humans, particularly those with sociopathic disorders, have been found to have mutilated animals in elaborate ways[http://www.earthfiles.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1132&category= More Cat and Dog Mutilations], (2006), Linda Moulton Howe using knives or surgical instruments.

In 1997, cattle mutilation researcher Charles T. Oliphant speculated the killings might be the result of covert research into emerging cattle diseases, and the possibility they could be transmitted to humans.Oliphant III, Charles Ted (1997), Dead Cows I've Known.{{cite news | url=http://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix-cattle-mutilation-mystery-r/144480059/ | title=Cattle mutilation mystery returns to Sask | newspaper=Star-Phoenix | date=14 May 2008 | page=5 }}

Biochemist Colm Kelleher, who has investigated several purported mutilations first-hand, argues that the mutilations are most likely a clandestine U.S. government effort to track the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow disease") and related diseases, such as scrapie.Kelleher, Colm, Brain Trust: The Hidden Connection Between Mad Cow and Misdiagnosed Alzheimer's Disease Paraview, 2004, {{ISBN|0-7434-9935-2}}, Ch. 19 Kelleher argues there was an "uncanny resemblance between the pattern of organ removals that were taking place in cattle mutilations and standard wildlife sampling techniques for monitoring the spread of infectious agents in the wild." Kelleher furthered noted that infectious disease experts had a history of using helicopters to conduct surveys, euthanizing animals with sedatives before removing organs, and applying formaldehyde to the carcasses of animals to prevent consumption by scavengers; mutilated cattle were found to have traces of sedatives and formaldehyde, and their carcasses were avoided by scavengers.

In 2014, Gabe's son Greg Valdez authored Dulce Base: The Truth and Evidence from the Case Files of Gabe Valdez based on his father's files.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=28xfmwEACAAJ | title=Dulce Base: The Truth and Evidence from the Case Files of Gabe Valdez | isbn=9780989102803 | last1=Valdez | first1=Greg | date=5 July 2013 | publisher=Levi-Cash Publishing, LLC }}{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26121055/jan-2-2014-cattle-mutilations-book/ | title=Jan. 2, 2014 cattle mutilations, Book sheds light on cattle mutilations, Dulce Base files, Other | newspaper=The Taos News | date=2 January 2014 | pages=B012 }} Greg Valdez reports his father never believed aliens were involved: "People want to come and find aliens, but there is no proof of aliens and my father never believed there was alien activity. He pointed toward the government." Greg Valdez concludes that mutilations were a government testing program looking at the after-effects of radiation from 1967's Project Gasbuggy, in which an underground atomic device was detonated just {{convert|21|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Dulce: "They were testing the cattle to avoid panicking the public".

Edwards reported his theory that the government was testing cattle parts to develop biological weapons to use in Vietnam, going so far as to write to Colorado Senator Floyd K. Haskell during Haskell's investigation to accuse agents of threatening him into silence.

In October, Edwards gave an interview to the Gazette (Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph), announcing a theory that a government project was behind the mutilations. He expressed frustration that the FBI would not get involved and said he would be writing a book explaining "how the project was conceived". Shortly after, he was fired by the Gazette and then disappeared. On December 5, 1975, Edwards' wife reported him as a missing person.{{cite news |title=Portraits of the Past: Investigation into cattle mutilations continues in Colorado |url=https://www.fortmorgantimes.com/2018/11/04/portraits-of-the-past-investigation-into-cattle-mutilations-continues-in-colorado/ |access-date=December 30, 2020 |publisher=The Fort Morgan Times |date=April 24, 2019}} Edwards reemerged in the 1990s. He had adopted a new name, Dr. David Ellsworth, and founded an English-language instruction program that was adopted by many federal universities in Mexico.{{cite web |last1=Beedle |first1=Heidi |title=The strange disappearance of Dane Edwards |url=https://www.csindy.com/temporary_news/the-strange-disappearance-of-dane-edwards/article_ea283a0e-0dfe-5238-8b02-9a1d86bbc462.html |website=Colorado Spring Indy |access-date=January 3, 2021 |date=November 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010101038/https://www.csindy.com/temporary_news/the-strange-disappearance-of-dane-edwards/article_ea283a0e-0dfe-5238-8b02-9a1d86bbc462.html |url-status=dead }}

Proponents of the weapons test hypothesis point to the fact that in March 1968, 6,000 sheep were killed as part of chemical weapons testing; the Army denied responsibility until 1998.{{cite web | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-death-6000-sheep-spurred-american-debate-chemical-weapons-cold-war-180968717/ | title=How the Death of 6,000 Sheep Spurred the American Debate on Chemical Weapons }}{{cite web | url=https://daily.jstor.org/the-1970s-cow-mutilation-mystery/ | title=The 1970s Cow Mutilation Mystery | date=17 March 2023 }}

Fringe explanations for the mutiliation have blamed satanic cults, aliens, or even mythical monsters. Historian Michael J. Goleman has argued that ranchers' conflicts with the federal government fueled nefarious explanations.{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3098/ah.2011.85.3.398 | jstor=10.3098/ah.2011.85.3.398 | doi=10.3098/ah.2011.85.3.398 | title=Wave of Mutilation: The Cattle Mutilation Phenomenon of the 1970s | date=2011 | last1=Goleman | first1=Michael J. | journal=Agricultural History | volume=85 | issue=3 | pages=398–417 | pmid=21901905 }}

{{see also|Satanic Panic}}

Closely related to the deviant hypothesis is the hypothesis that cattle mutilations are the result of cult activity.[http://www.meta-religion.com/Paranormale/UFO/cattle_mutilations.htm Meta Religion.com: Cattle Mutilation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823075308/http://www.meta-religion.com/Paranormale/UFO/cattle_mutilations.htm |date=2006-08-23 }}, (September 2006) However, contrary to the deviancy hypothesis, which holds that cattle are mutilated at random by individual deviants, the cult hypothesis holds that cattle mutilations are coordinated acts of ritual sacrifice carried out by organized groups.

In July 1975, reporter Dane Edwards of the Brush Banner published a cattle mutilation story and began investigating a theory that a cult was responsible. When the origin of the cult theory was traced to a federal inmate and no cult members were ever identified, ranchers and law enforcement started looking for other explanations.

Beliefs held by proponents of the cult hypothesis vary, but may include:

• That the apparent absence of blood at mutilation sites may indicate cult members would harvest itMystery Stalks the Prairie (1976), Donovan Roberta, Wolverton Keith, {{ASIN|B0006WH8CA}}{{page needed|date=January 2022}}
• That organs have been removed from cattle for use in rituals
• That unborn calves have been harvested from mutilated cattle.

The hypothesis that cults were responsible for cattle mutilation was developed in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s, a time of growing national concern over cults (such as the Peoples Temple and Jonestown) and ritual satanic abuse ("Satanic panic").Bromley David G. and Anson Shupe (1981), Strange Gods: The Great American Cult Scare. Boston: Beacon Press, {{ISBN|0-8070-3256-5}}{{page needed|date=January 2022}}Hadden J.K. (2002) [http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/cultsect/anticounter.htm Cult Group Controversies: Conceptualizing "Anti-Cult" and "Counter-Cult"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827231058/http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/cultsect/anticounter.htm |date=August 27, 2006 }}, University of Virginia

However, there were various reports during the time of menacing groups prowling around mutilation sites. In September 1975, a forestry service employee in Blaine County, Idaho, reported seeing a group of people in black hooded robes. Several cattle were found mutilated in the area the following day. On October 9, 1975, a motorist on U.S. Highway 95 in northern Idaho, in an area of frequent cattle mutilation, reported to police that some 15 masked individuals formed a roadblock with linked arms, forcing him to turn around.{{cite book |last=Albers |first=Michael D. |title=The Terror |date=1979 |pages=86–87 |publisher=Manor Books |isbn=978-0532233114}}

Since the beginning of the cult hypothesis, law enforcement agents in several states and provinces, including Alberta, Idaho, Montana, and Iowa have reported evidence implicating cults in several instances of cattle mutilations.Clark J (1999), Unexplained! Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena, 2nd Edition, {{ISBN|1-57859-070-1}}{{page needed|date=January 2022}}

During their investigations, the FBI and the ATF were unable to find appropriate evidence, including signs of consistency between mutilations, to substantiate that the animals had been the victims of any form of ritual sacrifice or organized mutilation effort. They were also unable to determine how or why a cult would perform procedures that would result in the anomalies reported in some necropsies,{{rp|3}} or to verify that the anomalies were 1) connected to the mutilations themselves 2) the result of human intervention.

In most cases, mutilations were either ruled due to natural causes, or the cattle were too far decayed for any useful conclusions to be drawn. Some cases of cult hysteria were traced back to fabrication by individuals unrelated to the incident. In one case it was concluded that claims had been falsified by a convict seeking favorable terms on his sentence in exchange for information.{{rp|14–15}}[http://vault.fbi.gov/Animal%20Mutilation/Animal%20Mutilation%20Part%202%20of%205/view Operation Cattle Mutilation, Section 2], FBI, Released under FOIA{{rp|23–24}} In another case, claims were traced back to local high school students who had circulated rumors as a joke.{{rp|21}}

{{main|Paul Bennewitz}}

Since the Snippy case in 1967, press had linked reports of unidentified aircraft to UFOs and flying saucers.{{Cite web|url=https://history.denverlibrary.org/sites/history/files/FlyingSaucerSought%20%282%29.jpg|title=Flying Saucer Sought in Death of Horse}}

In 1974, a few months after the first spate of alleged mutilations in the US, multiple farmers in Nebraska claimed to witness UFOs on the nights their cattle were harmed. The sightings were hailed by UFO researchers as the first physical evidence of extraterrestrial life.{{cite journal | last = Goleman | first = Michael J. | title = Wave of Mutilation: The Cattle Mutilation Phenomenon of the 1970s. | journal = Agricultural History | volume = 85 | issue = 3 | pages = 398–417 | date = 2011 | language = en | jstor = 10.3098/ah.2011.85.3.398 | doi = 10.3098/ah.2011.85.3.398 | pmid = 21901905 }} In 1980, journalist Linda Moulton Howe produced A Strange Harvest, a documentary on cattle mutilations. Based on information provided by a supposed-insider source called "Rick Doty", Howe used the film to claim the mutilations were linked to UFOs and aliens.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-0wFZRWKdfoC&pg=PA86 | title=A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America | isbn=978-0-520-23805-3 | last1=Barkun | first1=Michael | date=7 November 2003 | publisher=University of California Press }}

The 2013 documentary Mirage Men suggests there was conspiracy by the U.S. military to fabricate UFO folklore in order to deflect attention from classified military projects.{{Cite web |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |date=2013-06-13 |title=Mirage Men: Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/mirage-men-film-review-568349/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} The book it is based on, also called Mirage Men, was published in 2010 by Constable & Robinson.{{Cite book |last=Pilkington |first=Mark |title=Mirage men: a journey in disinformation, paranoia and UFOs |date=2010 |publisher=Constable |isbn=978-1-84529-857-9 |location=London}} Mirage Men discusess how, on April 20, 1979, U.S. Attorney R. E. Thompson and US Senator Harrison Schmidt held a public meeting about the ongoing cattle mutilations. The meeting was attended by about 80, including UFO researcher Paul Bennewitz. At the meeting, Bennewitz was introduced to highway patrol officer Gabe Valdez who was leading the state investigation into the incidents.{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/784269490/ | title=The Albuquerque Tribune 20 Apr 1979, page 1 }}Mirage Men ch. 11 p. 74 Mirage Men suggests government agents likely "first identified" Bennewitz at this meeting and perhaps outright targeted him for his participation.Greenwood, Barry and Brad Sparks, 'The Secret Pratt Tapes and the Origins of MJ-12', MUFON Symposium Proceedings 2007, as quoted in Mirage Men Ch. 11 p.88

By August 1988, Bennewitz was accusing his wife of being in control of the extraterrestrials. After attempting to barricade himself in his home using sandbags, his family admitted him to the mental health unit of Presbyterian Anna Kaseman Hospital; He remained under observation there for one month.{{Cite news|last1=Rose|first1=Steve |title=The real Men in Black, Hollywood and the great UFO cover-up |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/aug/14/men-in-black-ufo-sightings-mirage-makers-movie |access-date=19 August 2020 | work=The Guardian|date=14 August 2014}}

{{external media

| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCsKMZKgeHY Bill Moore addresses MUFON, July 1 1989]

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On July 1, 1989, UFO author William Moore claimed that he tried to push Bennewitz into a mental breakdown by feeding him false information about aliens.{{cite book|author=Barna William Donovan|title=Conspiracy Films: A Tour of Dark Places in the American Conscious|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJkhqU1IXHAC&dq=Conspiracy+Films:+A+Tour+of+Dark+Places+in+the+American+Conscious+bennewitz&pg=PA104|access-date=16 April 2012|date=24 July 2011|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-3901-0}} This was corroborated by a declassified CIA document that claims Moore and another officer of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Richard Doty, are responsible for a disinformation campaign against Bennewitz.{{cite web |last1=Durant |first1=R. J. |title=Will The Real Scott Jones Please Stand Up? |url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00792R000400300004-7.pdf |website=CIA |access-date=13 July 2023}}

In 1990, the Bennewitz story was featured in Howard Blum's book Out There: The Government's Secret Quest for Extraterrestrials. Blum publicized that the government had sent undercover agents to befriend and mislead Bennewitz using counterfeit documents.{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/389843781 | title=Chicago Tribune 10 Sep 1990, page 47 }}

File:Chupacabra (artist's rendition).jpg

Folklore has attributed the mutilations to chupacabras and similar creatures.{{cite news |last=Sieveking |first=Paul |title=50 Weird Years |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/100-weird-years-1134528.html |newspaper=The Independent |pages=8–13 |language=en |date=26 December 1999}} "Mothman" author John Keel mentioned investigating animal mutilation cases in 1966 (while with Ivan T. Sanderson) that were being reported in the Upper Ohio River Valley, around Gallipolis, Ohio.Keel, John A. The Complete Guide to Mysterious Beings, 1994, Doubleday, New York {{ISBN|0-385-47094-0}}{{page needed|date=January 2022}}

{{expand-section|date=March 2024}}

File:Cattle abduction novelty lamp.jpg

In 1982, researcher David Perkins authored Altered Steaks on the topic.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHEmAQAAMAAJ|title=Altered Steaks: A Colloquium on the Cattle Mutilation Question|first1=David|last1=Perkins|first2=Lewis|last2=MacAdams|first3=Tom|last3=Clark|date=April 22, 1982|publisher=Am Here Books/Immediate Editions|via=Google Books}}A pun on Altered States (1980) In 1984, Bantam Books published Mute Evidence by journalists Daniel Kagan and Ian Summers.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A8c-AAAACAAJ | isbn=978-0-553-23318-6 | title=Mute Evidence | date=1984 | publisher=Bantam Books }} In 2014, Christopher O'Brian authored Stalking the Herd.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HYpXDwAAQBAJ|title=Stalking the Herd: Unraveling the Cattle Mutilation Mystery|first=Christopher|last=O'Brien|date=February 1, 2014|publisher=SCB Distributors|isbn=978-1-939149-30-5 |via=Google Books}}{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2024}}

The 1977 British television mockumentary Alternative 3 linked mutilations to a fictional plan to transport livestock to secret military bases on the Moon and Mars.Bill Ellis (1991) Cattle mutilation{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2024}}

The 1992 film Sneakers featured Dan Aykroyd as a conspiracy theorist who links aliens to cattle mutilations.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykpK7s3PmoMC&pg=PA25|title=Digital Babylon: How the Geeks, the Suits, and the Ponytails Fought to Bring Hollywood to the Internet|first1=John|last1=Geirland|first2=Eva Sonesh|last2=Kedar|date=April 22, 1999|publisher=Arcade Publishing|isbn=978-1-55970-483-0 |via=Google Books}}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n5vZPQAACAAJ | title=Sneakers: The Screenplay | isbn=978-1-59300-130-8 | last1=Robinson | first1=Phil Alden | last2=Lasker | first2=Lawrence | date=March 2003 | publisher=Harvest Moon }}Mother (played by Dan Ackroyd) in the film Sneakers: "But the key meeting took place July

1, 1958, when the Air Force brought the space visitor to the White House

for an interview with President Eisenhower. And Ike said, hey, look, give us your technology, and we'll give you all the cow lips you want." The X-Files episodes "Eve" and "Irresistible" included mention of cattle mutilations.{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2024}} In Dulce, New Mexico and elsewhere, pranksters have added UFO images to roadside signs warning of cattle crossing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/features/move-over-roswell-dulce-is-home-to-true-ufo-believers/article_3164df9a-9813-5add-9b16-5e3a90c0340e.html|title=Move over, Roswell. Dulce is home to true UFO believers|first=Daniel J. ChacónThe New|last=Mexican|date=May 7, 2016|website=Santa Fe New Mexican}} The 1997 pilot episode of South Park titled Cartman Gets an Anal Probe references UFO and aliens as being linked to cattle mutilation. The 2022 film Nope features a biological flying saucer that feeds on livestock.{{Cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2022/07/11058789/jordan-peele-nope-ending-explainer|title=Still Thinking About That "Nope" Ending? Here's What It All Means|first=Ineye|last=Komonibo|website=www.refinery29.com}}

• Great Wyrley Outrages, a series of livestock mutilations in 1903 England.
• Horse ripping
• Black helicopters
• Linda Moulton Howe
• List of topics characterized as pseudoscience
• Surplus killing
• Croydon Cat Killer
• Rumors of equine mutilation in France in 2020

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://www.ufocasebook.com/pdf/cattle2.pdf "Rippers of the Range] (September 30, 1974) Alexander Cockburn, Newsweek
• [https://archive.org/details/mysterystalkstheprairierobertadonovankeithwolverton Mystery Stalks the Prairie] (1976) Keith Wolverton
• [https://www.ufocasebook.com/pdf/cattle2.pdf The Mutilation Mystery] (Sep 1976) Ed Sanders, Oui Magazine
• Fritz Thompson (October 25, 1977) Impact, the Albuquerque Journal Magazine
• [https://archive.org/details/omni-archive/OMNI_1980_01/page/n13 "Death on the Range"] (January 1980) Harry Lebelson, Omni
• "The Midnight Marauder"{{fact|date=May 2024}}} (January 21, 1980) Newsweek
• [https://archive.org/details/a-strange-harvest-linda-moulten-howe-1980 A Strange Harvest] (1980, 1983) Linda Moulton Howe
• [https://archive.org/details/mute-evidence-compressed Mute Evidence] (1984) Kagan and Summers
• [https://archive.org/details/howe-l.-m.-an-alien-harvest-2nd-ed-2014 An Alien Harvest] (1989) Linda Moulton Howe
• Project Beta: The Story of Paul Bennewitz, National Security, and the Creation of a Modern UFO Myth (2005) Greg Bishop
• Mirage Men: A Journey into Disinformation, Paranoia and UFOs. (2010) Mark Pilkington and the 2013 documentary film of the same name.
• Dulce Base: The Facts and Evidence from the Case Files of Gabe Valdez (2013)
• Stalking the Herd (2014) Christopher O'Brien

• [http://www.skepdic.com/cattle.html An explanation of cattle mutilation] at the Skeptic's Dictionary
• [http://vault.fbi.gov/Animal%20Mutilation Files on animal mutilation] at the FBI
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060711185519/http://www.paranormalnews.com/news.asp?nCategoryId=19 Animal Mutilation News] at Paranormalnews.com
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071014070818/http://forteantimes.com/features/articles/226/return_of_the_mootilators.html Return of the Mootilators] – Mark Pilkington reports on Argentinian cases
• [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/519/whats-the-story-with-cattle-mutilations The Straight Dope, on Cattle Mutilations]

{{UFOs}}

Category:Alleged extraterrestrial visitation

Category:Animal cruelty incidents

Category:Animal killing

Category:Cattle in culture

Category:Mutilation

Category:Supernatural urban legends

Category:UFO conspiracy theories

Category:UFO-related phenomena