The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“I haven’t seen anything like this before”
The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a string of livestock mutilations on Gunnison County ranches. Investigator Bob Summer confirmed there are two confirmed cases of livestock being killed and mutilated, and there may be more.
“They were killed and mutilated. I haven’t seen anything like this before,” Summer said. “As far as leads, I can’t go into that because it is an ongoing investigation.”
An August 7 Denver Post article reported that four animals have been killed and mutilated since May, including a horse on the LeValley Ranch property about eight miles east of Gunnison. The horse was shot, its head skinned, and its tongue and anus were removed. Less than two months before that, a prize heifer in the same area had its tongue, lips and anus removed.
The Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association is offering a $500 reward for any information that leads to a conviction. Summer asks that any individual who has information or sees anything suspicious should contact local law enforcement.
“It is an ongoing investigation. We are going to do everything we can to solve it, and if we do come up with a person, they will be prosecuted to the fullest,” Summer said.
