Preliminary test results released Tuesday ruled out poison or dangerous food sources in connection with deaths two weeks ago of seven animals in rural El Paso County, leading investigators to speculate about weather-related causes.
“Basically, this is a process of elimination,” said Dr. Jim Kennedy, a veterinarian at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
A team of veterinarians from across the state continues to investigate the deaths of 22 horses and a burro in two separate incidents near Calhan.
In the first case, six horses and a burro were found dead Oct. 11 with mysterious puncture holes. Another 16 horses were found dead Saturday.
The State Veterinarian’s Office is coordinating the efforts of doctors from CSU, a state facility in Rocky Ford and El Paso County.
While no formal ruling has been made, Dr. Keith Roehr, the assistant state veterinarian, said the general consensus is that the causes of death in both cases are weather-related, the first incident perhaps due to a “flash blizzard.”
Dr. John Heikkila, who responded to Saturday’s case, initially speculated the animals were killed by lightning.
El Paso officials issued a statement Tuesday reiterating Heikkila’s view that lightning is the most likely cause of death.
The horses were found near a barbed-wire fence, which could have attracted the lightning, officials said. Residents reported lightning in the area Oct. 19, which is when it is estimated the horses died.
Investigators said they didn’t see any signs of trauma.
“Animals do not always exhibit outward signs of electrocution,” said Dr. Charles D. Vail of Littleton Large Animal Clinic, who is not involved in the investigation. He said a postmortem examination of the brain and other organs could determine whether an animal had been electrocuted.
The lightning theory has riled some area ranchers.
“They are grasping at straws,” said William DeWitt, 72, the rancher who owned the dead horses discovered Saturday. “I did the same thing when I heard that the first time: I laughed out loud.”
DeWitt said the animals were spread over too wide an area, around 150 yards, to be killed by the same lightning bolt.
“You normally would find burn marks on the ground or the animal’s hair singed,” he said.
El Paso County investigators said the cases remain open until final test results are available.
Staff writer Amy Brouillette can be reached at 303-820-1201 or abrouillette@denverpost.com.
