MONROE - A Wildlife Services investigation into an apparent attack on two cows on a Monroe farm earlier this week was inconclusive.
The attack occurred between late Sunday and early Monday at a farm on Towns Road and left one cow with significant lacerations on its neck and knocked another one to the ground.
The owner of the cows, Mike Cockroft, noticed the injuries and reported them to the Department of Natural Resources, suspecting the work of a predator.
Charles Lovell, district supervisor for the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, said the investigation into the attack revealed no signs of what could have injured the animals.
"We're looking for remains of predators - scat, tracks, that sort of thing," Lovell said. "But unfortunately there just wasn't enough evidence for us to say what did this."
Inspection of the lacerations on one of the cows also failed to yield conclusive results.
Lovell said the investigation was severely hampered by this week's torrential rains. Any traces of a predator, if they existed, would likely have been washed away by the time of the investigation Tuesday.
Without any definite leads, it is impossible to say what could have injured the livestock, Lovell said. The possibilities range from a wolf to a bear to a coyote or even something mundane such as a cow running into a fence.
Lovell said Wildlife Services recommended Cockroft set up trail cameras around where the cows graze to record any unusual activity.
"And if any more cows are attacked, we recommend that he call us as soon as possible," Lovell said.
The attack occurred between late Sunday and early Monday at a farm on Towns Road and left one cow with significant lacerations on its neck and knocked another one to the ground.
The owner of the cows, Mike Cockroft, noticed the injuries and reported them to the Department of Natural Resources, suspecting the work of a predator.
Charles Lovell, district supervisor for the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, said the investigation into the attack revealed no signs of what could have injured the animals.
"We're looking for remains of predators - scat, tracks, that sort of thing," Lovell said. "But unfortunately there just wasn't enough evidence for us to say what did this."
Inspection of the lacerations on one of the cows also failed to yield conclusive results.
Lovell said the investigation was severely hampered by this week's torrential rains. Any traces of a predator, if they existed, would likely have been washed away by the time of the investigation Tuesday.
Without any definite leads, it is impossible to say what could have injured the livestock, Lovell said. The possibilities range from a wolf to a bear to a coyote or even something mundane such as a cow running into a fence.
Lovell said Wildlife Services recommended Cockroft set up trail cameras around where the cows graze to record any unusual activity.
"And if any more cows are attacked, we recommend that he call us as soon as possible," Lovell said.