Cattle rustlers steal $19,000 worth of calves in Fremont County
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ST. ANTHONY — A group of cattle rustlers have gotten away with a big haul.
The Idaho State Police Brand Inspectors Office and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office are reporting 19 calves were stolen from a pasture in the Sand Creek area of Fremont County. The calves are worth an estimated $19,000. If the calves are allowed to mature into breeding stock they could be worth more than $40,000.
“Cattle are worth a lot of money right now and any time that happens the criminal element is alive and well,” Brand Inspector Deputy Luke Davis said. “We return missing cattle fairly regularly, but 19 head being stolen out of one pasture is fairly uncommon.”
Officials report 65 cow and calf pairs (130 cows) were put out to a 500 acre pasture by rancher Ron Wilcox on May 12. But when ranchers gathered the cattle they discovered 19 calves were missing. The missing calves had been gone long enough for their mothers milk to dry up, indicating they were likely taken in mid-May.
Nineteen calves were stolen from Fremont County Rancher Ron Wilcox.
Authorities have no credible leads at this time. Davis said the theft would have taken a coordinated effort of several trained men to lure the calves away from the herd.
“We don’t have any eye witnesses, but his would have taken some effort,” Davis said.
All the calves have a WZ branded on their right hip. The heifer calves will have a green tag in their left ear and a blue tag in their right. The steer calves will have the opposite.
Wilcox has put up a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the cattle rustlers.
If you have information about the theft contact Davis at (208) 390-1346 or the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 624-4482.