Calf found dead, mutilated in Bingham County

A cattle rancher said his brother found a calf mutilated in a remote section of the family’s Bone area ranch Wednesday.

Rancher Mitt Thompson said the calf was found with its reproductive organs surgically mutilated.

“They tipped it on its back, pulled the hide back,” said Thompson. “Somebody knew what the hell they were doing. … The animal was wasted, its life taken for no reason.”

Thompson’s brother documented the find on his phone.

Thompson still can’t believe what he saw. The hide on the lower half of his calf is completely cut off.

“It wasn’t a coyote or a wolf that did it, I’m positive of that,” he said. “It was surgically cut out of there.”

What’s worse, said Thompson, it’s not even the first time this summer something like this has happened. “Over the summer, we’ve had three other cattle shot that we know of.”

In this case, though, the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office is not entirely sure what killed Thompson’s calf.

Sheriff Dave Johnson said it appears the hide has been cut and peeled back on the lower part of the cow. He’s calling it suspicious and unusual.

The Bonneville County Cattleman’s Association and the Idaho Cattleman’s Association are both offering $1,000 rewards for any information leading the arrest of those responsible. Tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at (208) 522-1983.