# What happened to the Shermans' cattle? · Skinwalker Ranch > Four answers have been proposed. Predators, disease and scavenging, read as mutilation. leads, with evidence 3 for: partly supported by its tests. Three… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/questions/QST0D0147YC7V7H/what-happened-to-the-shermans-cattle Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T15:41:03+00:00 --- **0** # What happened to the Shermans' cattle? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: predators, disease and scavenging, read as mutilation** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Predators, disease and scavenging, read as mutilation. leads, with evidence 3 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The cattle deaths are the only part of the story that should have left physical evidence. The family reported seven cows lost by June 1996, four vanished and three found partly mutilated, but had not called a vet or the sheriff⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D013VQR6BWM/frequent-fliers). NIDS later brought a veterinarian onto the ranch and says it examined carcasses⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D013WF67AF3/hunt-for-the-skinwalker-science-confronts-the-unexplained-at). A pathologist's finding would be the first hard datum in the case. ## Answers 4 [**Predators, disease and scavenging, read as mutilation.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/answers/ANS0D014CB02BG8/predators-disease-and-scavenging-read-as-mutilation) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/answers/ANS0D014DJ22Q7E/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**People killed, cut or stole the animals (theft, cult activity, harassment).** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/answers/ANS0D014CTM0VRP/people-killed-cut-or-stole-the-animals-theft-cult-activity) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 for Still possible [**The deaths were caused by the same unknown phenomenon that produced the sightings.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/answers/ANS0D014D2E4NSK/the-deaths-were-caused-by-the-same-unknown-phenomenon-that) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 1996[Whiting: the Roosevelt vet who assisted NIDS with necropsies said its one case so far was not a mutilation, and put…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D013ZMR307R/universe-reports-on-strange-utah-occurrences)For: Predators, disease and scavenging, read as mutilation. 1. 1996[Van Eyck: the county sheriff's office said mutilation reports usually arrive one to three weeks after the animal is…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D013ZCY5XRV/millionaire-leads-quest-for-ufo-data)For: Predators, disease and scavenging, read as mutilation. 1. 1996[Van Eyck: four of the seven cows vanished without trace, which theft explains and scavenging does not.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D013VQR6BWM/frequent-fliers)For: People killed, cut or stole the animals (theft, cult activity, harassment). 1. 1999[Kelleher et al.: nIDS's 1998 necropsy of a Basin cow found its eye and ear cut with a sharp instrument.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0140VT3BB1/final-report-investigation-of-the-unexplained-death-of-a-cow)For: People killed, cut or stole the animals (theft, cult activity, harassment). 1. 1999[Kelleher et al.: the one full NIDS necropsy from the Basin found no sign of heat or cautery in the cuts.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0140VT3BB1/final-report-investigation-of-the-unexplained-death-of-a-cow)Against: The deaths were caused by the same unknown phenomenon that produced the sightings. 1. 2005[Kelleher & Knapp puts forward: people killed, cut or stole the animals (theft, cult activity, harassment).](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D013WF67AF3/hunt-for-the-skinwalker-science-confronts-the-unexplained-at) 1. 2005[Kelleher & Knapp puts forward: the deaths were caused by the same unknown phenomenon that produced the sightings.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D013WF67AF3/hunt-for-the-skinwalker-science-confronts-the-unexplained-at) 1. 2005[Kelleher & Knapp: nIDS reports examining carcasses with unusual features.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D013WF67AF3/hunt-for-the-skinwalker-science-confronts-the-unexplained-at)For: The deaths were caused by the same unknown phenomenon that produced the sightings. 1. 2011[Goleman: the missing parts the family described (an eye, the rectum) are the soft tissues scavengers take first.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D01422W50YM/wave-of-mutilation-the-cattle-mutilation-phenomenon-of-the)For: Predators, disease and scavenging, read as mutilation. 1. 2020[Sheaffer puts forward: predators, disease and scavenging, read as mutilation.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D013XEE32AG/claims-about-a-government-ufo-program-how-much-is-true) 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/questions/QST0D0147YC7V7H/what-happened-to-the-shermans-cattle%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/questions/QST0D0147YC7V7H/what-happened-to-the-shermans-cattle%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/questions/QST0D0147YC7V7H/what-happened-to-the-shermans-cattle%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/questions/QST0D0147YC7V7H/what-happened-to-the-shermans-cattle%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/questions/QST0D0147YC7V7H/what-happened-to-the-shermans-cattle%23add-source) Where it fits Skinwalker Ranch **What happened to the Shermans' cattle?** Key question · you're here [Do the wounds called "mutilations" need any cause beyond scavengers, decomposition or people with knives?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/questions/QST0D014E9G5Z6R/do-the-wounds-called-mutilations-need-any-cause-beyond)Most likely · scavengers, insects and bloating after a natural death produce the classic picture of missing soft tissue,… [ Ask a question under this one ]