A string of cattle mutilations in Arkansas around the summer of 1979 began a wild media frenzy covering the possible cause of the madness. Questions started circling about satanic rituals and possible alien activity, but the truth may be a bit less strange. As the story continued people were demanding a conclusion to these cattle mutilations in Arkansas. This is a strange tale as we dive into this strange history in Arkansas. Be warned some of the images and descriptions in this story are graphic in nature.

Something strange was going on with cows all around Arkansas during the summer of '79. Farmers from various locations began reporting unusual cattle mutilations.

The story was not new to the state, though. Just two years before in the autumn of 1977 there were sporadic accounts of cows being found dead and butchered by unknown means. From June to September of 1979, however, the killings increased and sparked a media frenzy. Every unusual cattle death was reported in local newspapers, and Arkansas authorities took a closer look at what was going on.

Before the summer began, investigators discovered that drugs including mescaline and PCP were detected in the blood of cows who appeared to be killed in a ritual. Investigators also determined that the deaths all happened near water.

The mutilations before and after that summer were said to have been conducted with expert medical precision, much like that of a surgeon. Very little blood evidence was able to be collected at the crime scenes, which was highly unusual for such gruesome killings. Arkansas residents and even some authorities began to speculate about Satanic worship and aliens being involved with these strange cases. After all, UFO sightings in Arkansas have happened before but there were no concrete ties to visitors from another planet being involved.

By October of 1979, the theories about alien visitors and Satanic ritual killings were debunked by local investigators. An experiment had been conducted a month before and a cow was put to death by tranquilizers in a location much like where the cattle mutilations took place.

The carcass was kept under surveillance for eighteen hours. By noon the following day flies and buzzards had eaten away the soft tissue of the carcass, and its state was very similar to that of the mutilated cattle found in the months prior to the experiment.

The most plausible explanation behind the dead cattle would be severe weather. Lightning, to be more specific, strikes and kills a cow standing near water. The body is cauterized as a result, and scavenger insects and birds would be responsible for eating away the soft flesh with natural precision.

The drugs found in what little blood evidence was taken can be explained, too. Phencyclidine (PCP) is a common cattle tranquilizer that would be used in the event of severe weather. The chemical compounds in mescaline are resembled in nature, and it's not unusual for a grazing cow to eat mushrooms. Thankfully there's a less disturbing explanation for these strange situations.

The brutality of nature is quite jarring at times. These cattle mutilations in Arkansas are no exception but as strange as it is to have so many of them dying in a short time we do have answers now. The real question still remains, do you believe these plausible causes, or is something far more sinister happening under the cover of darkness? This coverage from this Syfy Channel show may help to shine some light on this historical event.

If you love the mysteries of life then make sure you check out these unsolved mysteries in Arkansas. While we are on the topic of mysteries can someone please explain to me why Kansas and Arkansas are pronounced differently?!

If you love to solve mysteries then make sure you check out this murder mystery experience in Arkansas.