Whatever caused the sudden deaths of dozens of cattle in northwestern Colorado late last year remains elusive, according to officials who ended their investigation into the matter last month.

The unexplained incidents received widespread media attention, giving rise to speculations involving everything from wolf depredation and soil based pathogens, to stirring of claims of a mysterious “creature” that “left no tracks” responsible for the killings




Cows stand on pastureland north of Gypsum on Sept. 14, 2022. Wolves were the original suspect as about 40 cattle near Meeker were found dead in a matter of weeks, but Colorado Parks and Wildlife's investigation found no evidence of wolves,
Colorado Parks and Wildlife still doesn’t know what killed dozens of cattle near Meeker in a case that has been described by officials as “perplexing.”

Wolves were initially suspected, but the agency has not been able to find any trace of them in the area since livestock started showing up dead in October. In a news release on Tuesday, Feb. 7, CPW officials said they have officially closed the investigation without determining exactly what led to the animal’s demise.

“Although a few cattle showed wounds consistent with injuries from large canines, further investigation to collect additional evidence has yielded no confirmation of wolves in the area,” said Travis Black, the agency’s northwest regional manager, in the news release.


As the 90-day window allowing producers to provide proof that animals had been killed has expired, the agency is closing the investigation, Black said. Still, the investigation showed that injuries to a few of the calves were consistent with a canine attack.

Wildlife officials did discover a pack of nine domestic dogs that were harassing wildlife about 7 miles away from where livestock were found dead, which the release says cast further doubt that wolves could have been to blame.


“Based on the hide damage and muscle trauma to the animals, we believe these few cattle were likely killed or injured and died later, by some species of canine larger than coyotes,” Black said. “But we do not have specific evidence to determine what species of canid cause the depredations.”

About 40 cattle turned up dead over several weeks, but only a handful of them had any sign that they were attacked. These animals also had no sign of feeding that wildlife officials would have expected to see if wolves had killed them.

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The agency used trail cameras, howling surveys and aerial flights to find any trace of wolves, but Black told the CPW Commission in November that there was little evidence to suggest another group of wolves had mad their way into Colorado ahead of this year’s voter-mandated reintroduction of the species.

The agency also consulted with veterinarians to see if there was a health component, potentially exacerbated by the presence of a predator, that caused cattle to die, but experts from two universities couldn’t find evidence for that either.

CPW’s release said they are continuing to explore what health issues could have led to the cattle’s death.

“We’re scratching our heads,” Black told the commission.

Lenny Klinglesmith, whose cattle have been killed in this case, will no longer pursue compensation for the cattle, the release said.

“The Klinglesmith family would like to thank the local (wild life officials) and veterinary staff for the many hours spent in the field and the office investigating this incident,” Klinglesmith said.

https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/cpw-still-doesnt-know-what-killed-40-cattle-in-meeker/

Probably a couple shitbulls.

Right. No evidence that wolves are involved.

Doubt.

Yeah that’s real fucken head scratcher.

Whodunit.jpg

Aliens, squatch or chupacabra

Natural Resources:  "what wolves"

(as they release wolves)

Cover up

Most likely wolves.

Werewolves ?

Lol.

notsayingitwasaliensbutitwasaliens.jpg

Chupacabra for sure.

It's always aliens.
Attached File

Like Dogman

I’m not saying it was a chupacabra, but it was a chupacabra!

We are still investigating the possibility of; domestic dogs, right wing gun activists, suicide, chupacabra, aliens, spontaneous combustion, the Clintons, Covid or Trump supporters. But definitely not wolves.

This. It's like the FBI investigating themselves and finding no wrongdoing.  It's the damned wolves they are reintroducing.

This right here. Fish cops have lied so continuously about any possible wolf kills it is impossible to take what they say at face value.

That said, i haven’t researched this particular case.

Controversial release of wolves into the mountains of Colorado.

Several months later, multiple livestock mutilation deaths by “large canines” is reported.

Investigation by the entity that released the wolves into the mountains.

“No evidence of wolves in the area.” (Except 40 dead cows mauled and partially eaten by large canines.)

Everything seems on the up and up to me.

Some years ago I remember a similar incident locally. Turns out dogs from several farms got together and started killing cows..  one farmer had a huge white Shepard, the dog showed up all covered in blood with a huge cow bone in his mouth.

Wendigo.

Either illegals or obamites did it.

Well, if the ranchers don't know, I sure as shit don't know.

bullshit they don't know

Steamboat Pilot news reporter...riiiight... no wolves...probably aliens...not illegal aliens though...

Therewolves.

this, lol

Definitely wolves.

Good dag likes the rare beefs.

This, if it was wolves, they have to pay.  Kind of like reverse of covid deaths.

Possibly Swearwolves?

Not the saintly wolves.