https://komonews.com/news/local/cattle-in-oregon-again-found-dead-amid-strange-circumstances

---

by Associated Press & KOMO News StaffTuesday, April 20th 2021AA

File photo

PRINEVILLE, Ore. — Cattle in central Oregon are again showing up dead under strange circumstances.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports Tuesday that over the past three months, seven animals have been found mutilated on ranch land.

The cases in Crook County call to mind similar mutilated cattle in 2019 in Harney County, as well as cases in Wasco, Umatilla, Wheeler and Lake counties in recent years. There were no tracks around the carcasses.

The sheriffs from several of those counties are trying to coordinate and share information.

In most cases, the dead animal’s sex organs, tongue or eyes are cut away cleanly and there is no blood at the scene.

A similar series of bizarre livestock deaths and mutilations in the West and Midwest in the 1970s struck fear in rural areas, and caused people to carry guns.

In those earlier cases, thousands of cattle and other livestock ranging from Minnesota to New Mexico were found dead with their reproductive organs and sometimes part of their faces removed.

Some ranchers believe a cult may be behind the deaths.