Authorities investigate dead cows

Four cows were found dead last week within a 300-yard radius in an area east of the Stillwater Wildlife Refuge.

A fifth cow with a mangled foot was found sometime later in the same vicinity. The animal suffered a serious limb infection and was destroyed by the rancher.

Undersheriff Greg Nelson said investigators suspect the animals were shot, though the cause of death was hard to determine because of the decomposition of the carcasses.

"We're treating this as a criminal investigation," Nelson said.

archive