Dead cattle in eastern Oregon reservoir disturb tourists

Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho — Dead cattle floating in a reservoir just west of the Oregon-Idaho border are causing trouble for tourists.

About 10 to 15 cattle carcasses were discovered floating in Owyhee Reservoir in Malheur County, Oregon, on Sunday, The Idaho Statesman reported.

The cattle died as a result of heavy snow burying their winter forage and ranchers’ inability to reach the livestock with food.

Malheur Sheriff Brian Wolfe said the carcasses are alarming to recreationists, who don’t know what caused their deaths. The carcasses also are spread out, making them hard to avoid.

Wolfe said he wants to assure the public that the livestock didn’t die of neglect or abuse.

Wolfe said he’s going to send his marine deputy out this week to assess the situation and hopefully devise a plan for removal.

“We’re not sure whose responsibility it is,” to remove the carcasses, Wolfe said. “Nobody else wants anything to do with it, so it ends up being the sheriff.”

Wolfe said the carcasses aren’t a normal part of his job, but they’re a part none the less.

“Folks don’t realize what comes with the office of sheriff. It’s a lot more than cops and robbers,” he said.