Cattle Mutilation Incident Reports and FBI Correspondence — New Mexico, 1976-1979

This collection of documents details the investigation into a series of cattle mutilations occurring in New Mexico and the broader Western United States between 1976 and 1979. The reports, primarily authored by Officer Gabriel L. Valdez of the New Mexico State Police, describe a recurring pattern of animal deaths characterized by the precise removal of organs, such as the tongue, lymph glands, and sexual organs, often performed with surgical accuracy. The carcasses were frequently found in a dehydrated state, sometimes with evidence of having been dropped from aircraft. Witnesses reported low-flying, unidentified aircraft in the vicinity of these incidents. Forensic analysis conducted by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory on tissue samples yielded inconclusive results, noting the presence of Clostridium species but failing to definitively identify the cause of death or the method of mutilation. The documents highlight the growing concern of local ranchers and political figures, including Senator Harrison Schmitt, who requested federal intervention. The FBI eventually became involved, specifically regarding mutilations occurring on Indian reservations, though the Bureau struggled with jurisdictional limitations and the lack of a clear federal offense. A conference held in Albuquerque in April 1979 brought together law enforcement officials, researchers, and witnesses to discuss the phenomenon. Various theories were presented, ranging from ritualistic cult activity and biological warfare experiments to extraterrestrial involvement. Despite the establishment of a code name, BOVMUT, and the allocation of grant money to the Santa Fe District Attorney's office to coordinate investigations, no definitive perpetrator or cause was identified. The reports emphasize the difficulty of the investigation due to the lack of eyewitnesses, the destruction of evidence, and the highly organized nature of the incidents.