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Advocates of investigation into mutilation assert it is a genuine practice; skeptics, on the other hand, posit that the "mutilations" are misrepresented natural processes. Since the time that reports of animal mutilations began, the causes have been attributed variously to natural decomposition, normal predators, Cryptid predators, Extraterrestrials , secretive governmental or military agencies, and cults. Mutilations have been the subject of two independent federal investigations. In 1975, Colorado Governor Richard Lamm said cattle mutilation was "one of the greatest outrages in the history of western cattle industry."Onet George E, DVM PhD, Animal Mutilations: What We Don't Know HISTORY Reports of mutilated cattle first surfaced in the US in the early 1960s, when it was allegedly largely confined to the states of Pennsylvania and Kansas . The phenomena remained largely unknown outside cattle raising communities until 1967, when the '' Pueblo Chieftain '' in Pueblo, Colorado published a story about a horse named Lady who was mutilated in mysterious circumstances, which was then picked up by the wider press and distributed nationwide. By the mid 1970s, mutilated cattle were reported in 15 states, from Montana and South Dakota in the north, to New Mexico and Texas in the south. Democratic senator between the Special Agent In Charge of the FBI field office in Albuquerque, New Mexico , and the Director of the FBI, there had been an estimated 8,000 mutilations (including horse mutilations) in the U.S. by 1979, at a cost of $1,000,000 (unadjusted) to farmers and ranchers. Around the year 2002 there were some cases reported in Argentina. After some reports that the FBI would handle it, the agency issued a letter to Senator Curtis dated 10 Sep 1974 indicating that they could find no federal law had been violated. CHARACTERISTICS Physical characteristics Although the exact nature of mutilations varies from case to case, a typical mutilation might involve any or all of the following:
In most cases mutilation wounds appear to be clean, and carried out surgically. Mutilated animals are usually, though not always First Pregnant Cow Mutilation Discovered ( February 13 , 2006 ), Earthfiles reported to have been drained of blood, and have no sign of blood in the immediate area or around their wounds. According to sample FBI records from 1975, mutilations of the eye occurred in 14 percent of cases, mutilation of the tongue in 33 percent of cases, mutilation of the genitals in 74 percent of cases, and mutilation of the rectum in 48 percent of cases. According to a later survey taken by the NIDS mutilation of the eye occurred in 58 percent of cases, mutilation of the tongue in 22 percent of cases, the genitals in 85 percent of cases, and the rectum in 76 percent of cases. According to Dr. 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 Some mutilations are said to occur in very brief periods. A 2002 NIDS report Three Reports of Unusual Killings and Mutilation of Calves (2002), NIDS relates a 1997 case from Utah. Two ranchers tagged a specific calf, then continued tagging other animals in the same pasture. The ranchers were, at the most, about 300 yards from the calf. Less than an hour later, the first calf was discovered completely eviscerated -- most muscle and all internal organs were missing. There was no blood, entrails, or apparent disturbance at the scene. Independent analysts both uncovered marks on the calf's remains consistent with two different types of tools: a large, Machete -type blade, and smaller, more delicate Scissor s. Laboratory reports 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. Operation Cattle Mutilation, Section 4 FBI, Released under FOIA 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. :“Both the liver and the heart were white and mushy. Both organs had the texture and consistency of peanut butter” :Gabriel L Veldez, New Mexico Police The animal's heart as well as bone and muscle samples were sent to the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, part of the University Of California , for microscopic and bacteriological studies, while sample 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. They did not directly investigate the heart's unusual color or texture. FBI memo relating to 1978 mutilation 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. Other signs In addition to the physical aspects of the mutilation, ranchers commonly claim to find unusual signs upon or after the discovery of a mutilated animal.
CONVENTIONAL EXPLANATIONS As with most disputed phenomena, there are a number of potential explanations to cattle mutilations, ranging from death by natural causes to purposeful acts by unknown individuals. U.S. governmental explanation After coming under increasing public pressure, Federal authorities launched a comprehensive investigation of the mutilation phenomena. In May 1979, the case was passed on to the FBI , which granted jurisdiction under Title 18 (codes 1152 and 1153 ). The investigation was dubbed "Operation Animal Mutilation". The investigation was funded by a US$44,170 grant from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration , and was headed by FBI agent Kenneth Rommel . It had 5 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 was 297 pages long and cost approximately US$45,000. It concluded that mutilations were predominantly the result of natural predation, but that some 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 . Prior to the involvement of the FBI, the ATF launched their own investigationClark J, Pear N (1997), "Strange and unexplained phenomena", Visible Ink Press of the phenomena. It concluded further investigation was necessary, but was unable to determine what was behind the phenomena. The scope of the ATF investigation was limited to a single suspected cause. Both federal investigations were preceded (and followed, to some extent) by a state level investigation carried out by enforcements officials in New Mexico. This investigation reported finding evidence that some mutilated animals had been tranquilized and treated with an anti-coagulant prior to their mutilation (page 13). It also contended that alleged surgical techniques performed during mutilations had become 'more professional' over time (page 13). However, officers in charge were unable to determine responsibility or motive. The ATF investigation was headed by ATF Agent Donald Flickinger. The New Mexico investigation was headed by Officer Gabriel L Veldez of the New Mexico Police, with the assistance of Cattle Inspector Jim Dyad and Officer Howard Johnston of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Natural causes While many unconventional explanations have been put forward to explain cattle mutilations, a variety of scientists, veterinary workers and knowledgeable observers (including farmer 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, Skeptic's Dictionary: Cattle Mutilation (September 2006) Missing or mutilated mouth, lips, anus and genitalia are explained as:
Missing/mutilated eyes and soft internal organs are explained as:
Absence of blood is explained as:
Surgical incisions in the skin are explained as:
The hypothesis that natural phenomena accounts 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 Department. 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. Experiments have also been conducted to compare the different reactions of surgically cut hide/flesh and predated hide/flesh to natural exposure.Onet George E, DVM, PhD, Kelleher Colm, PhD, (1997), Histological Changes in Bovine Skin Exposed to Natural Environmental Conditions They demonstrated pronounced differences between surgical cut and non surgical cuts over time. This article does not address tearing due to bloating. Some ranchers have disputed the natural causes hypothesis on the grounds that the mutilated animals often fall outside of the normal categories of natural deaths followed by predation. According to Dr J. R. Waddell, Veterinary Medical Officer and Diagnostician with an extensive career in animal disease control and eradication, examining reported animal mutilations should be done without the emotional influence that often accompanies these cases. Waddell states:
Human intervention Animal cruelty and deviant activity It is alternatively hypothesised 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 deviants who derive pleasure or sexual stimulation from mutilating animals. Deviant attacks against animals are a recognized phenomenon. There have been many recorded cases around the world, and many convictions. Typically the victims of such attacks are cats, dogs and other family pets, More Cat and Dog Mutilations , (2006), Linda Moulton Howe and the actions of deviants are usually limited to acts of cruelty such as striking, immolating or beating animals. However, attacks have also been recorded against larger animals, including sheep, cows and horses. Life term sought for killer, horse mutilator , Expatica, November 11 , 2005 Deviants, particularly those with Sociopathic disorders, have been found to have mutilated animals in elaborate ways using knives or surgical instruments. On April 20 , 1979 , Dr. C Hibbs of the New Mexico State Veterinary diagnostics Laboratory spoke before a hearing chaired by Senator Harrison Schmitt. Dr. Hibbs testified that mutilated fell into three categories, one of which was animals mutilated by deviants (page 25). FBI records did not record the percentage of the mutilated animals fell into this category. The standard criminal charge for mutilating an animal, including cattle, is Animal Cruelty . Cults Closely related to the deviant hypothesis is the hypothesis that cattle mutilations are the result of cult activity. Meta Religion.com: Cattle Mutilation , (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. Beliefs held by proponents of the cult hypothesis vary, but may include:
The hypothesis that cults were responsible for cattle mutilation was developed in the U.S. during the 1970s, a time of growing national concern over cults issues.Bromley David G. and Anson Shupe (1981), Strange Gods: The Great American Cult Scare. Boston: Beacon Press, ISBN 0-8070-3256-5Hadden J.K (2002) Cult Group Controversies: Conceptualizing "Anti-Cult" and "Counter-Cult" , University of Virginia It became a social phenomenon in areas where cattle were being mutilated and there were several panics when it was claimed that cattle mutilations were a 'warm up' in preparation for human sacrifices. In 1975, the US Treasury Department assigned Donald Flickinger to investigate the existence of connections between cults and the mutilation of cattle(Page 23). The operation came under the jurisdiction of the Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco And Firearms . 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. Media reports of the time reported his investigation was dropped when it was determined cattle deaths were not a prelude to a co-ordinated campaign against elected officials by cult members (Page 23). Public interest in the cult hypothesis waned during the 1980s, but interest was maintained by proponents such as the Colorado based Television Evangelist Bob Larson , who campaigned to raise public awareness of links between cattle mutilations and cult activity through his ministry and radio shows. Another proponent of the cult hypothesis is Montana author Roberta Donovan . In her 1976 publication "Mystery Stalks the Prairie" she documents the experiences of Deputy Sheriff Keith Wolverton of Great Falls , Cascade County investigating cattle mutilations with suspected cult involvement. Since the beginning of the cult hypothesis, law enforcement agents in several states, 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 but does not prove involvement beyond reasonable doubt. 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 (Page 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 Operation Cattle Mutilation, Section 2 , FBI, Released under FOIA (Page 23-24) (Page 14-15). In another case, claims were traced back to local high school students who had circulated rumors as a joke. (Page 21) Shell-shock During the early 1970s one of the hypothesis that emerged to explain cattle mutilations was that they were being perpetrated by Shell-shock ed Vietnam veterans who were recreating scenes of torture that they had either seen committed against US troops by Vietnamese guerrillas, or that they had themselves committed against Vietnamese fighters.Clyde Lewis, To Boldly Spindle and Mutilate (September 2006) This hypothesis was quickly discounted by FBI agents and soon fell out of favor among phenomena proponents. It rarely appears in modern texts on mutilations. UNCONVENTIONAL EXPLANATIONS Government/military experimentation A less conventional hypothesis that has been put forward to explain the reported mutilations concerns the large number of mutilations that occurred in close proximity to former US nuclear test sites. This theory is based on a number of eyewitness accounts reporting military type helicopters before the mutilation was discovered. In addition to this there were also a number of helicopter type marks left in the soil. The descriptions range from army green to black helicopters. In one such case (Oct. 1993) in Alabama an FAA investigator witnessed an unmarked helicoptor during an investigation concerning livestock mutilations where witnesses claimed to have seen helicoptors. The FAA agent traced this particular helicoptor to the Maxwell Air Force Base in Southern Alabama. In this case it has been speculated the military dissected cattle to determine the level of radioactive material that had accumulated in their soft tissue (the mouth, anus and lower soft organs being logical targets). This would allow the military to gauge the level of radioactive exposure each animal received over its lifetime, as well as to monitor which areas received the most fallout. And as a result, it would allow the military to estimate the probable levels of human exposure to fallout, and to ascertain roughly how much radioactive contamination is entering the human food chain through milk and meat. Mutilated animals that fall outside the contaminated area can be presumed:
A similar hypothesis exists in relation to mutilations that occurred in areas that host US bases affected by fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, and areas which host US bases subject to fallout from foreign nuclear experiments. Other government/military related hypotheses include the supposition that mutilated cattle have been used as guinea-pigs during the development of Energy Weapon s, biological agents, laser scalpels, or other items of advanced technology. The evidence used to substantiate these hypotheses remain largely circumstantial and are not supported by anything released so far under the Freedom Of Information Act . In his 1997 article “Dead Cows I've Known”Oliphant Charles T(1997), Dead Cows I've Known., cattle mutilation researcher Charles T Oliphant speculates cattle mutilation to be the result of covert research into emerging cattle diseases, and the possibility they could be transmitted to humans. Oliphant posits the NIH, CDC, or other federally funded bodies, may be involved, and they are supported by the US military. Part of his hypothesis is based on allegations that human pharmaceuticals have been found in mutilated cattle, and on the necropsies that show cattle mutilations commonly involve areas of the animal that relate to “input, output and reproduction”. To support his hypothesis, Oliphant cites a Previous Case in which plain clothes military officers, travelling in unmarked vehicles, entered a research facility in Reston, Virginia to secretly retrieve and destroy animals that were contaminated with a highly infectious disease. Additionally, a 2002 police officers. The area had seen many unusual cattle deaths, and ranchers had organized armed patrols to surveil the alleged unmarked aircraft which were associated with the livestock deaths. The police witnesses claim to have encountered several men in an unmarked U.S. Army helicopter in 1976 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. Aliens and UFOs Various hypotheses suggest cattle mutilations have been committed by aliens gathering genetic material for unknown purposes. Most of these hypotheses are based on the premise that earthly entities could not perform such clean dissections in such a short space of time without being seen or leaving evidence behind at the mutilation site, and around curious laboratory reports suggesting the use of unconventional cutting tools and other unexpected phenomena. According to reports collected during the FBI's investigation of cattle mutilations, UFOs or unusual aircraft were frequently reported before or after the discovery of mutilated cattle. No consensus exists as to why aliens would be mutilating cattle, though proponents of this hypothesis have put forward a number of suggestions, including that aliens are using the cattle for experiments to help them adapt to the Earth's environment, or they are using cattle to develop a food based biological weapon for the invasion of Earth. IN POP CULTURE
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