CAUS Bulletin - No 01

Magazine Overview

Title: CAUS BULLETIN
Issue: #1
Date: September 1985
Editors: L. Fawcett & B. Greenwood

This is the debut issue of the CAUS BULLETIN, a publication intended to present lengthy or inconveniently formatted information that doesn't fit the standard JUST CAUSE format. The editors state that bylined articles are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors. The style is flexible and can include photos, newsclips, and documents. This issue features an animal mutilation report submitted by Linda Moulton Howe and a document from A.F. Intelligence regarding an early UFO incident.

Animal Mutilations and UFOs

The bulletin highlights the phenomenon of cattle mutilations and UFOs, which have been reported since the early 1970s. Hundreds of reports describe animals, particularly cattle, being cut up in bizarre ways across the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world. The connection to UFOs arose as ranchers and law enforcement observed unexplained lights hovering over pastures.

South Dakota Cattle Mutilations (1984-1985)

The issue details several incidents in South Dakota. In January 1984, 19-year-old Alfred Grass discovered a mutilated black cow on his family's ranch. The cow was lying on its left side, with its right ear cut off, right eyeball missing, a half-circle cut on its nose, and its udder removed. Notably, there was no blood found, and no tracks were present around the animal. Similar descriptions were found in old mutilation files from various states.

Two days later, Alfred and a hired hand found another pregnant cow similarly mutilated. On February 19, 1985, Alfred Grass found a third mutilated cow, also pregnant, with its right ear cut off, a circular cut around its right eye, and its udder removed. Again, no tracks were found.

On March 24th and the first week of April 1985, the Grasses found their fourth and fifth mutilated pregnant cows. These were cut up like the others, but the udder was removed cleanly, leaving four neat holes.

Strange Lights and UFO Sightings (South Dakota, 1985)

The bulletin also reports on strange lights observed in the same areas. On February 8, 1985, around 7:30 pm, Clayton Merchen, his wife Sheila, and his mother Margaret encountered strange lights while en route to a school board meeting. They saw an object in the sky with one light, then two, then one, appearing to spin. The light was described as a 'white spotlight' or 'landing lights on a plane.' The object stopped, hovered over a pasture, and then moved rapidly away with a 'whirring low roar sound.' Clayton observed a small red light between two larger white lights, and noted flashing red lights on the back of the object.

On February 27-29, 1985, strange lights continued to be seen. On the 27th, Clayton Merchen saw moving white lights that rapidly approached him when he shined his spotlight at them. He described them as moving from 3 miles away to about a quarter-mile in a couple of seconds. The lights then moved away and reappeared over a nearby hill.

The next night, Clayton's daughter and cousin saw lights behind, above, and in front of their moving pickup. On February 29th, David Brewer from the Pine Ridge Bureau of Indian Affairs witnessed lights appear over a ridge near the Merchen's place. Brewer described the object as moving unstably, like a kite, and estimated it was about 1000 yards away and 400-500 feet up.

On March 6, two law enforcement officers from Martin, South Dakota, followed up on the sightings. They observed a bright light on the horizon that split into two, with the left light brighter. A flashing red light was between them. The object moved parallel to their car about 100 yards away and 100 feet up. The officers noted that the light did not illuminate anything and seemed to be in a 'tunnel.' The object then turned southeast, revealing four red lights in a horseshoe shape, and emitted a muffled jet whine. An air controller at Ellsworth AFB confirmed no aircraft were in the area.

Expert Opinions and Theories

In August 1975, Colorado Governor Richard Lamm stated that cattle mutilations were a significant outrage and could no longer be blamed on predators. The bulletin notes that theories about the cause of mutilations have shifted from predators to Satanic cults, government research, UFOs, and extraterrestrials. A veterinarian from Wyoming, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of professional repercussions, recounted examining a cow near Carpenter, Wyoming, where the eyeball, optic nerve, and eye tissue were so thoroughly removed to clean bone that he wondered how it was done.

The issue concludes by questioning the connection between the strange lights and the cow pastures.

Memorandum Report of Unusual Sighting (1951)

This section includes a declassified memorandum report from February 10, 1951, by Lt. Graham E. Bethune, Co-Pilot on Flight 125 from Keflavik, Iceland, to Naval Air Station, Argentia. At 0055Z on February 10, 1951, while flying at 10,000 feet, Bethune observed a glow of light below the horizon about 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the water.

He called the object to the attention of Lieutenant KINGDON. The object was under thin scuds at roughly 30 to 40 miles away. After observing its course and motion for several minutes, they noted its first glow was dull yellow. While on an intercepting course, the object's angle of attack changed, and its altitude and size increased rapidly, with speed estimated in excess of 1,000 miles per hour. It closed in so fast that a collision seemed imminent. At this point, its angle changed, and the color became 'definitely circular and redish orange on its primiter.' It reversed its course and tripled its speed before disappearing over the horizon.

Due to altitude and distance over water, precise estimation was difficult, but a rough estimate placed the object at least 300 feet in diameter, traveling over 1,000 miles per hour, and approaching within 5 miles of the aircraft.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary themes in this issue are unexplained animal mutilations and UFO sightings, presented as potentially linked phenomena. The bulletin adopts an investigative stance, presenting witness accounts and official reports without definitive conclusions, but clearly leaning towards the idea that these events are not attributable to conventional explanations like predators or known aircraft. The inclusion of a declassified military report suggests an interest in historical UFO evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into anomalous phenomena, providing a platform for detailed accounts that might otherwise be overlooked.