By Grant Johnson, Staff Reporter
Several residents of Lamont County say they have been disturbed after discovering several deceased calves discarded along rural roads in recent weeks, prompting concern and calls for answers.
On multiple occasions, residents have reported finding fully grown dead calves left on the side of range roads, including a recent discovery along Range Road 184.
The incidents have unsettled those living nearby, with many questioning why the animals were left in such visible public locations.
The issue gained attention after local resident Rosie McCaffrey made a post on a community online page. The post quickly drew significant attention, with many commenters describing the situation as deplorable and urging authorities to investigate.
McCaffrey said a Community Peace Officer attended the scene after her report but that she had not received any follow-up information.
Lamont County Communications Coordinator Jay Zaal confirmed that the county’s Community Peace Officer had been notified about the deceased calves. However, by the time, the officer attended the reported locations, the carcasses were no longer present.
According to the county, proper livestock disposal practices include placing deceased animals at the corner of a field to allow for natural scavenging by wildlife such as coyotes, or burning the carcasses to prevent decomposition and reduce the risk of disease spread.
Many have posted online that they hope the situation brings greater awareness to proper livestock disposal and encourages anyone with information to come forward, as the discoveries have left many concerned about both public health and respect for the rural landscape.
Originally published in the February 25 edition of The Lamont Leader. Want to show your support of local journalism? Subscribe to our E-Edition on Local Ink! Just $1 per month gets you a year of access to upcoming editions.
