Stigmata - Issue 03

Magazine Overview

Title: STIGMATA
Issue: NUMBER THREE
Date: MAY 1978
Publisher: Project Stigma

This issue of STIGMATA is dedicated to the continuing investigation into the occurrence of animal mutilations. Project Stigma aims to coordinate and assist information-gathering activities on this phenomenon.

Subscription and Contact Information

Due to an ever-shrinking pocketbook, STIGMATA announces a subscription price of $1.00 per issue (cash preferred). This revenue will help alleviate expenses and allow for improvements such as photos, drawings, and lengthier articles in future issues. To receive the next issue (July), send $1.00 to Project Stigma, P.O. Box 1094, Paris, Texas 75460. Mutilation reporting forms are available upon request and without charge.

Inquiries and International Reports

Project Stigma addresses questions from readers and interested parties. It is confirmed that animal mutilations have been reported in countries beyond the United States, including Kenya, England, Puerto Rico, Canada, Brazil, Bolivia, Sweden, Australia, and Scotland. While many international accounts lack detail, specific reports from Canada are highlighted. In Ontario, a series of livestock slashings in 1975 and 1976 were attributed to aberrant human individuals. In Quebec, similar incidents also occurred. Attempts to gain details regarding these Eastern Canadian cases have been less than fruitful.

Specific Case Examples

Alberta, Canada (Spring 1976): An incident near Wildwood involved two healthy horses found in a snowbank, each missing their uterus and left eye, described as 'surgical' removal. The only tracks nearby resembled "duck prints" but were three times the size of normal duck tracks. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigated, and the carcasses were reportedly flown to Winnipeg for analysis. Project Stigma expresses a desire to learn more about this incident and examine any photographs.

Western Nebraska, USA (January 1978): A 1700-lb bull was found mutilated in a cornfield. It had one ear cut off, its tongue removed, and a large patch of hide cut off. There were needle-like marks on its chest, and the carcass had little blood. The rancher noted that the ground was packed down around the bull, but there were no tracks of any kind, leading him to question the predator explanation.

Logan County, Colorado, USA (December 1976): A cow was found mutilated in a pasture. Investigators found the animal "badly decomposed", despite freezing nights.

Cassia County, Idaho, USA (October 1975): Meat on a mutilated cow carcass appeared fresh more than a week after death, despite being in the "hot daytime sun".

Furnas County, Nebraska, USA (October 1975): Despite unseasonably warm weather, a mutilated cow failed to decompose normally. The odor was slight, and no flies appeared on the carcass within ten days of discovery. It did not bloat.

NE Colorado, USA (late 1977): A rancher showed an investigator a bull carcass that had been mutilated. The investigator was amazed at the lack of decay and the presence of fleshy, moist tissue, noting that while decay usually occurs rapidly, it then slows markedly.

New Mexico, USA (undated): A letter to Dr. Richmond Barbour described a steer that had its head pulled off and a hind leg removed, with innards scattered. The most striking aspect was the absence of blood and the lack of any tracks.

Mute Inquiries: Project Stigma's Investigative Approach

Project Stigma's "research teams" are not a formal unit but an informal network of civilian and official investigators. These individuals are available to probe mute incidents, ideally within 24-48 hours of discovery. If an older incident is reported, Project Stigma will still inform the nearest investigator. There is no charge for investigations, except for fees charged by external professionals like veterinarians or private investigators.

Defining the Problem: Decomposition Rates and Characteristics

The varying rates of decomposition in mutilated carcasses are noted as a curious element. While some decay rapidly, others do so slowly. The report contrasts cases with rapid decomposition with those where carcasses remain remarkably fresh for extended periods, even in warm weather. The absence of flies and bloating is also mentioned. Project Stigma requests animal owners and investigators to observe and report on the rate of decomposition in mutilated carcasses.

Witnesses to Mutilations-in-Progress

It is stated that at least four witnesses have encountered mutilations in progress. These include a harassed rancher's wife, a woman burned by a beam from a helicopter, a photo reportedly taken of a mutilator, and a helicopter with "Oriental occupants" encountered in a Western state. The validity of these incidents will be explored in a future issue.

Color Change in Carcasses

In a previous issue (STIGMATA #2), interest was expressed in mutilated carcasses that undergo a color change. This phenomenon is noted as being similar to molybdenum poisoning, where the underbelly is affected first. Further details are promised for the next issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the persistent and widespread occurrence of animal mutilations, often characterized by precise, bloodless surgical removal of organs and tissues. The magazine adopts an investigative stance, seeking to gather information and coordinate efforts to understand these events. There is an implicit suggestion that conventional explanations (like predation) may be insufficient, and the possibility of unusual or unknown causes is explored. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging reader participation and reporting, while acknowledging the difficulties in obtaining complete information and the potential for cover-ups or reluctance to face reality.