Cow found mutilated on rangeland near Fossil

FOSSIL, Ore. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death and mutilation of another cow — this time, on rangeland in Eastern Oregon, near Fossil.

The black Angus cow, a breeding animal worth about $1,000, was found Thursday dead and mutilated with tongue, genitals and reproductive organs cut out, The Capital Press reported. Her carcass was found upright, front legs tucked underneath which is a position investigators say they haven’t seen before.

The cause of death is unknown. By the time authorities arrived, the animal had likely been dead a few days, past the window to perform a necropsy.

This isn’t the first time David Hunt, owner of Hunt Ranch and a partner-producer for Painted Hills Natural Beef Inc., has lost an animal to mutilation. In December, he found a dead bull in the snow with its nose, lips, ears, tongue, tail and genitals removed and blood drained.

Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office deputy Jeremiah Holmes said that case yielded no leads. This time, however, Holmes said officers found a partial boot print near the carcass.

“I didn’t say much when my bull died last winter,” said Hunt. “But this time, the cops wanted permission to publicize so maybe people can keep their eyes open.”

The FBI has files on thousands of killings and mutilations of cattle across the U.S. since the 1970s. The animals are usually found with the same body parts missing — and no one has been arrested.