UFO Mail - No 265 - 2018

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO-Mail, number 265, published on July 11, 2018, by Skandinavisk UFO Information, is a Danish newsletter focusing on UFO phenomena. It includes a special offer for supporting members and features articles on cattle mutilation and UFO-related topics.

Support SUFOI and Get a Special Offer

The newsletter announces a supporter campaign where individuals contributing at least 250 Danish Kroner can receive a free book. An early bird offer provides a 40% discount on the book "UFO'er - Myter og viden" (UFOs - Myths and Knowledge) for those who pay by August 10, 2018. This book is described as a hardcover A4 format with 204 pages and 120 illustrations, normally priced at 349 Kroner, but available to supporters for 209 Kroner.

When a Good Steak Was Alien Food

This section, authored by Kim Møller Hansen, begins with a personal account of a strange light and a calf's distress, hinting at a possible UFO encounter. It then transitions to the infamous "History of a Dead Horse" case.

The History of a Dead Horse

On September 9, 1967, residents of a farm in San Luis Valley, Colorado, discovered their three-year-old horse dead in a field. The horse was described as having been mutilated with "surgical precision," drained of blood, emitting a "chemical" odor, and found near mysterious imprints in the ground. Neighbors had reported seeing UFOs in the area prior to the discovery. The story gained significant media attention after an Associated Press news telegram on October 5, 1967, leading to various theories, including satanic cults, aliens, or secret government biological experiments.

However, scientific personnel from the University of Colorado and the University of Nevada concluded in February 1968 that the condition was not unusual for a drained carcass and that scavengers likely consumed the soft tissues. Veterinarian Dr. Wallace Leary eventually determined the horse had been killed by two .22 caliber shots. Despite these findings, conspiracy theorists and storytellers continued to promote more dramatic explanations. The following 10-12 years saw numerous reports of dead, mutilated livestock, primarily cattle, in the Midwest.

Mutilations on an Assembly Line

This section details the investigations into cattle mutilations, particularly in agricultural areas where the phenomenon received extensive media coverage. The number of reports surged, prompting several official investigations throughout the 1970s to determine if there was anything unnatural about the numerous livestock deaths.

In 1974, sociologist James R. Stewart of the University of South Dakota studied reports from Nebraska and South Dakota. He concluded that the phenomenon was largely a result of widespread self-deception fueled by media attention. Stewart explained that soft tissues like eyes, muzzles, and genitals are naturally consumed by scavengers, and the resulting marks could appear "surgical."

Farmers, who previously might not have investigated livestock deaths closely, began doing so due to media coverage, looking for signs of "surgical cuts." In 1975, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CIB) examined 203 reported cattle mutilation cases from April to December. Their report indicated that laboratory analysis of skin samples found only two instances of sharp tool use. Over six months, CIB agents spent 1,557 hours on the investigation, including undercover work, but could not identify any perpetrators. The scientific material suggested the cattle died of natural causes and were subsequently attacked by predators.

Speculation about satanic rituals also arose, partly due to the presence of stacked stones and small rock piles in the landscape, interpreted as altars. Anthropologist Nancy Owen from the University of Arkansas studied this aspect in Benton County, Colorado, finding that stacking stones is a common, non-mysterious practice among campers and hikers.

Owen's 1980 report noted local police concerns about "mutilations," not from fear of aliens or satanic cults, but from the risk of accidental shootings by nervous farmers who were patrolling their properties at night to protect their livestock. The police considered "trigger-happy farmers" a greater threat than "mysterious mutilators."

In April 1979, the U.S. government allocated $44,000 for an investigation into alleged cattle mutilations in southwestern New Mexico. Former FBI agent Kenneth Rommel studied 117 reports over a year and concluded that the animals died of natural causes and were consumed by scavengers, with no evidence of satanists, aliens, or secret organizations. He also could not confirm rumors of farmers killing their own animals for insurance money.

Rommel recommended that police reports avoid terms like "surgical precision" and instead rely on factual data and laboratory conclusions, warning against being misled by non-authoritative statements.

A Feast for Scavengers

In September 1979, a sheriff in Washington County, Arkansas, conducted a simple experiment. A farmer donated a cow carcass, which was observed and filmed for over 30 hours. Within 18 hours, most of the cow's organs were consumed by various scavengers, including buzzards, blowflies, and skunks. The tongue, eyes, and soft tissues around the anus, as well as internal organs like the intestines and bladder, were quickly eaten. Little blood remained at the scene. The final image of the carcass, taken two days after death, still showed the attention of scavengers.

Naturally Occurring

All official investigations into alleged cattle mutilations have concluded that the livestock died naturally and were subsequently consumed by scavengers. In only one instance was a cow found to be mutilated by a human, resulting in charges and conviction for animal cruelty, reportedly inspired by media coverage.

Sociologist Robert Bartholomew and historian Hilary Evans, authors of "Outbreak! The Encyclopedia of Extraordinary Social Behavior," suggest that the media frenzy surrounding the Snippy case (referring to the horse) kickstarted the cattle mutilation wave. They believe it fueled stories about government involvement, stemming from a growing dissatisfaction and mistrust of the distant U.S. government in the rural Midwest during the late 1960s, partly due to the Vietnam War.

TV Documentary Keeps the Myth Alive

Author Jason Colavito writes on his blog (July 7, 2018) that renowned UFO researcher Jacques Vallée has significantly contributed to perpetuating the myth that aliens mutilate cattle in the USA.

Colavito states: "Vallée made the UFO theory of cattle mutilation very popular in the public consciousness because Rod Serling died in 1975. Serling had narrated UFOs: Past, Present and Future in 1974, an episode from a series of UFO documentaries. With Serling's death, the producers needed a new narrator for an updated version of the film. The rerun was scheduled for 1979 and was tailored to capitalize on the interest generated by Close Encounters and the renewed interest in UFOs. They approached Vallée, partly because he was presentable and good on camera, and partly because rumors suggested he had been the inspiration for the French ufologist in Close Encounters."

Vallée recounts his involvement: "Jay Levey, Bob Emenegger, and Alan Sandler asked me to help them with the update of UFOs: Past, Present and Future, which would be re-released under a new title: UFOs: It has Begun. They wanted me to narrate the new footage and were looking for unpublished data. I recommended they add a segment on cattle mutilations."

In early 1979, Vallée had concluded that "Cattle mutilations are happening, but they probably have nothing to do with UFOs." Nevertheless, he recommended that the topic be included in the film. On July 5, 1979, he saw a rough cut of the film: "At Sandler's office, Hynek and I reviewed parts of the new documentary UFOs: It has Begun. We wanted to show the first accurate documentation of the cattle mutilation problem, a topic no one had dared to touch until now."

Although Vallée was uncertain about the cause and significance of cattle mutilations, he helped spread the message that they were part of the UFO phenomenon. And there they remain, despite the obvious lack of evidence for a non-terrestrial origin.

Read UFO Reports Online

Readers are invited to read UFO reports on www.ufo.dk. Latest reports submitted to SUFOI about UFO experiences can be found under "Observationer" on www.ufo.dk.

Become a Member of SUFOI's Support Circle in 2019

The organization Skandinavisk UFO Information is run by volunteers. Its primary mission is to provide the public with serious information about the UFO myth through ufo.dk and to register observations of unusual aerial phenomena. The newsletter encourages financial contributions to support their work.

Members can choose one of four book titles as a gift: "Ildkugler over Danmark" (Fireballs over Denmark), "UFO'er - Myter og viden" (UFOs - Myths and Knowledge), "Mysteriet om UFO'er" (The Mystery of UFOs), and "Firestorm" by Ann Druffel.

UFO-Mail is Published by Skandinavisk UFO Information

The newsletter is published by Skandinavisk UFO Information. Copyright 2018. Articles may be quoted with clear source attribution, but full reproduction requires written agreement. Photocopies are subject to Copydan fees.

Contact information for the organization is provided, including their website, email options, and physical address in Ringsted, Denmark.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Mail strongly emphasizes a critical and investigative approach to UFO phenomena, particularly concerning cattle mutilation. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards sensational claims, favoring evidence-based analysis and scientific investigation. The articles highlight how official investigations have consistently debunked the alien connection to cattle mutilations, attributing them to natural causes and media amplification. The role of documentaries and researchers like Jacques Vallée in popularizing these myths, even with personal reservations, is also examined. The publication actively encourages public participation through its support circle and by sharing UFO reports, aiming to provide serious and credible information about UFOs.