Editing Cattle mutilation (section)

===1974 Nebraska wave===
Reports resumed in April 1974, when a Nebraska cow was discovered mutilated and drained of blood.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal/6150470/|title=Another Cattle Mutilation Case is Discovered|newspaper=The Salina Journal |date=April 8, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  That month, the [[North American Newspaper Alliance]] reported on the 1973 mutilations along with sightings of unidentified helicopters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/124054840/|title=Cow Mutilation in Nebraska Similar to Those in NCK Area|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=April 11, 1974|pages=18|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

In May, two mutilations were reported in Mills County, Iowa;  An AP story argued coyotes were responsible.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/mexico-ledger-cattle-mutilations-coyoter/146387501/|title=Cattle Mutilations Coyoters, Not Witches|newspaper=Mexico Ledger |date=May 13, 1974|pages=4|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  By June 1974, mutilations were reported in Lancaster County, Nebraska.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-cow-mutilation-repo/94287673/|title=Cow Mutilation Reported|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=June 13, 1974|pages=33|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  Custer Country reported similar helicopter sightings and armed patrols.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/6155062/|title=Devil Worship Fires Debate in Cattle Mutilations |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=August 23, 1974|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-telescope/124057631/|title=Cattle Deaths Due to Rustlers, Coyote or Cultists -- They Weave Weird Tale|newspaper=The Belleville Telescope |date=July 18, 1974|pages=8|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  On August 14, 1974, the [[Cascade County, Montana]] Sheriff's Office received its first report of a mutilated cow.<ref>Donovan and Wolverton, 1977</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2024}}

On August 20, press reported a "new twist" in the mutilations:   Days prior, near  Agnew, Nebraska,  an unidentified helicopter had been spotted hovering 400 feet above where a mutilated cow would later be discovered.<ref name="auto1"/>  The helicopter was reported shining a spotlight into the field;  FAA and National Guard reported no knowledge of helicopters operating in the area.<ref name="auto1"/>  Knox County Sheriff Herbert Thompson reported that armed civilians had begun patrols in response to repeated helicopter sightings.  Cloud County Attorney William Walsh told press of a jailhouse informant who claimed to be a former cult member and opined the mutilations were likely the result of devil-worshiping cultists. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Brand Inspectors were reported to lean toward predators as the cause.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/107314554/|title=Devil Worship Fires Debate in Cattle Mutilations|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=August 23, 1974|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>   Amid the cattle mutilation jitters and drought, Oakland, Nebraska experienced as spate of "beast" sightings as residents feared an unidentified noisy night-time animal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/522969909|title=Aug 23, 1974, page 1 - Fremont Tribune at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>  State Sen. John Decamp called on authorities to coordinate an investigation into the mutilations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/beatrice-daily-sun/145924660/|title=Cattle mutilation "must be stopped"|newspaper=Beatrice Daily Sun |date=August 27, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star-decamp-asks-probe-into/94288444/|title=DeCamp Asks Probe Into Cattle Mutilations|newspaper=The Lincoln Star |date=August 27, 1974|pages=22|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
As on August 28, there had been 25 mutilations reported across five Nebraska counties.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal/145925139/|title=Mutilation-Slayings of Cattle Puzzle Nebraska Authorities |newspaper=Sioux City Journal |date=August 28, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

On August 28, press reported that a rancher near Hartington had apparently thwarted a mutilation in progress when he found a helicopter  above his field was spotted by a neighbor who summoned the sheriff;  All three reportedly witnessed the helicopter as well as a car that also seen shining a spotlight into the field. The following morning, a dead cow was found near where the helicopter had been spotted, but the cow had not been mutilated.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/145925263/|title=Apparent Mutilation Attempt Thwarted|newspaper=The Lincoln Star |date=August 28, 1974|pages=5|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  Authorities cautioned the public not to shoot at aircraft.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-helicopter-users-ta/146390684/|title=Helicopter Users Talk About Scare|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=August 29, 1974|pages=19|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  On September 5, it was reported that authorities had ordered helicopters to fly above 1000 feet after a commercial helicopter took two bullets during a power line inspection.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/145925569/|title=Helicopters to Avoid Frightened Ranchers|newspaper=The Lincoln Star |date=September 5, 1974|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

On September 11, a supposedly-mutilated cow was revealed at autopsy to have died of natural causes, i.e. bacterial infection.  It was the third such mutilation disproved by authorities as the University of Nebraska's Department of Veterinary Science.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-cattle-mutilation-r/146395955/|title=Cattle Mutilation Refuted in Autopsy|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=September 11, 1974|pages=49|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  On September 17, over 50 law enforcement officials from 24 counties attended a meeting at the Knox County Courthouse in Center, Nebraska to discuss the mutilations. Participants, who dismissed the cult theory, estimated that out of 80 cow deaths under discussion, about 27 were suspected mutilations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ames-tribune/6155232/|title=Cult theory in cattle mutilations wanes|newspaper=Ames Tribune |date=September 18, 1974|pages=29|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

On September 19, press reported three cases of alleged mutilations in  South Dakota:  Two in Moody County and one in Lake County.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal/145927133/|title=Cattle Mutilation in Moody Probed|newspaper=Sioux City Journal |date=September 19, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  On the advice of the Sheriff, patrols were organized and farmers were instructed to check their herds every 12 hours.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal/145928066/|title=Farmers Check Herds in Wake of Mutilations|newspaper=Sioux City Journal |date=September 20, 1974|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  On September 30, papers reported on an unusual cow death where the animal was shot with a firearm, incised, and set aflame with fuel oil.  Unlike other cases, removed body parts were left on site and no parts of the animal were taken.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-humans-blamed-in-s/146397073/|title=Human's Blamed in Steer's Death|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |date=September 30, 1974|pages=8|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

In the September 30, 1974 issue of Newsweek, the magazine became the first national outlet to cover the ongoing mutilation story;  Its story reported 100 cattle mutilated in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa since May.<ref name="O'Brien"/><ref>''Stalking the Herd'' incorrectly lists Newsweek's publication year as 1973 rather than 1974.</ref>

On October 2, 1974,   South Dakota Attorney General [[Kermit A. Sande|Kermit Sande]] told press that a number of mutilations had been reported in the state.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times-south-dakota-cattle-muti/146337505/|title=South Dakota Cattle mutilated|newspaper=St. Cloud Times |date=October 4, 1974|pages=7|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-livestock-reporter/145931965/|title=Cattle Mutilations Continue|newspaper=Western Livestock Reporter |date=October 24, 1974|pages=1|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-livestock-reporter/145932061/|title=Cattle Mutilations Continue|newspaper=Western Livestock Reporter |date=October 24, 1974|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-cattle-mutilations-reported/146337426/|title=Cattle mutilations reported in S.D.|newspaper=Star Tribune |date=October 3, 1974|pages=39|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Mutilations had been reported in three counties, and a psychiatrist argued the person responsible might be psychotic.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-state-acts-on-cattle/146397358/|title=State Acts on Cattle Death; Mutilator Psychotic Says Yankton Mental Unit Officer|newspaper=Sioux City Journal |date=October 3, 1974|pages=2|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  After five mutilations were reported in Day County, a $500 reward was offered.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-reward-offered-by-bee/146398599/|title=Reward Offered By Beef Group|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald |date=October 4, 1974|pages=43|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

It was reported that UFO conspiracy theorists considered cattle mutilations might be related to flying saucers;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94288615/he-ran-for-gun-as-saucer-hovered-cont/|title = He Ran for Gun as Saucer Hovered|newspaper = Lincoln Journal Star|date = 6 October 1974|page = 20}}</ref>   On November 15, UFO expert [[J. Allen Hynek]] released a statement denying any link.<ref name="O'Brien"/>{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2024}}

On December 2 1974, press reported on the Minnesota mutilations:  two in Kandiyohi County, six in Swift County, and one in Meeker County.  The Meeker animal was reportedly drained of blood.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times-cattle-mutilation-meeker/19256435/|title=Cattle mutilation Meeker Co 1974|newspaper=St. Cloud Times |date=December 2, 1974|pages=12|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>  Between 1970 and 1974, twenty-two mutilated cattle were reported in Minnesota.<ref name="Goleman"/>