Every year, without fail, new UAD cases are reported from America's rangelands. The first UAD reports of 1997 have already started coming in. The following information was posted to the internet on April 15, 1997 by Christopher O'Brien. Thanks to Tim Edwards for forwarding it to CNI News.]
by Christopher O'Brien
The mystery cattle surgeons may have returned to northern New Mexico.
Sources in the Taos area confirm the discovery, last Saturday morning, April 12, 1997, of a cattle mutilation near Arroyo Secco, north of Taos. The five-year old female was discovered on her left side, missing the tongue, udder, rear-end and upside eye. Las Vegas real-estate magnate, paranormal-buff, Robert Bigelow reportedly sent Cevolla, NM, veterinarian Leroy Martinez and ex-NM State Patrolman Gabe Valdez to the site.
According to Taos News reporter Phaedra Greenwood, who accompanied them, the animal also had bruises around the chest and hips possibly caused by a harness.
Cold nightime temperatures may have aided efforts to obtain pristine evidence three days after the animals death. Usually, samples need to be obtained within 24 hours of death.
This case is the latest possible UAD [unusual animal death] in Northern New Mexico and is very near where five suspicious cattle deaths were discovered late last summer and early fall.
On February 20, 1997, Red River, NM rancher John Mutz (pronounced mutes -- no joke) discovered a bull missing its tongue and rear-end 1/2 mile from the house. NM Cattle Inspector Jerry Valario was called to the scene. The rancher had secured a tarp over the animal to keep scavengers off the carcass, and when Valario pulled the tarp off he was "overcome" by some kind of unnatural "outgassing." Valerio reportedly was so stricken by the chemical-like smell (which was not the animal rotting) that he needed "medical attention."
The rancher told investigators that he touched the animal and received a chemical-like burn on his hand, similar to cases reported in 1995 near Chimayo and in Eagles Nest, where Valario had received a similar burn. He has reportedly resigned from the Board as an investigator.
Once again, Bigelow dispatched an investigative team who obtained samples, the heart and a section of the animal's throat.
We can hardly help but ask, will we the public ever be told the results of these tests? If so, WHEN? Sources in Utah claim Bigelow's "team" obtained samples from a case near Ft. Duchesne last fall, and to my knowledge, NIDS [Bigelow's National Institute for Discovery Science] has not publically released any findings.
Long-time CO/NM UAD investigator David Perkins investigated a third possible UAD case discovered March 6, 1997 near Pecos, NM east of Sante Fe. Perkins heard about the case from "a friend of a friend," and located the rancher. The rancher claims his family has raised cattle on the same land for "400 years." The 2 year-old red and white cow had been"very healthy" and was found missing an 8" deep, 10" wide, circle of hide from the stomach. The "cut" reportedly extended to include a portion of the udder and two teats. The right ear was found missing a deep V-shaped notch of cartilage and hide. The rancher also noted that the freshly fallen snow appearedto be "airbrushed away" from directly around the animal.
As per the norm, no tracks or additional evidence were found, and not wanting publicity, the rancher quickly "burned and buried" the animal and no forensic samples were obtained or official report filed.
Historically, winter and early spring cases usually indicate a very active spring UAD season. Other reports have surfaced from Northern Oregon (12-31-96) and 13 filed reports from Northern Florida.
After thousands of cases these perplexing cattle deaths are still occurring and STILL no one has ever been apprehended or charged for a single one!
[Christopher O'Brien can be reached by email: tmv@rmi.net or on the web: http://rainbow.rmi.net/~tmv/ ]
Original file name: CNI - Cattle Mute in NM
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