Utah authorities are seeking help in solving a curious cattle mutilation case that occurred earlier this summer. According to a local media report, the gruesome incident came to light in early July when a rancher discovered a downed bull on his property in Carbon County. Sensing something unusual about the situation, he dutifully reported the matter to law enforcement. Chillingly, a subsequent investigation by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food led to the troubling conclusion that the case was a genuine cattle mutilation.

Mutilated bull found in Carbon County, courtesy: UDAF

The department's Director of Animal Industry, Leann Hunting, explained that their assessment came about after investigators eliminated an array of prosaic possibilities for how the animal could have been killed. "We just don't have those factors at play," she observed, ultimately musing, "it does appear to be a mutilation case, which is incredibly rare." As one might imagine, the Carbon County Sheriff's Office is keen to get to the bottom of the strange slaying and has offered a reward for any information that could bring the perpetrator to justice.