BRIGHAM CITY — Deputies are investigating the death of a cow that may have been illegally killed near Grouse Creek, close to the Utah-Nevada border. The animal was discovered Wednesday morning.
Box Elder County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dale Ward said the animal appeared to have been dead for several days. It already had signs of significant predator activity that had begun to devour the carcass.
The cow’s death is suspicious, due to the way it appeared to be partially concealed by some willows. The predator activity was also not at the normal starting points on the carcass and a significant amount of activity was at an unusual place, leading to the belief that the animal was shot.
Ward explained that the cow is suspected to have died Saturday or Sunday, due to the condition of the carcass. The cow was raising a calf, but luckily the calf is old enough that that it is expected to survive on its own.
Hunting in the area is prohibited and the fields were posted with “No Trespassing” signs. There also should not have been any shooting in the area because of the grazing livestock.
Ward said the Utah Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Utah Farm Bureau and Utah Cattlemen’s Association is offering a reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of anyone involved. The case remains under investigation.