Rommel Report - 'Operation Animal Mutilation' (June 1980).
documentedgovernment_studyAnimal Mutilation
The 297-page June 1980 report of 'Operation Animal Mutilation,' the LEAA-funded NM investigation led by retired FBI agent Kenneth Rommel; concluded the mutilations were predominantly natural predation. The most prominent official study - documented, but its predation conclusion is contested.
[DOCUMENTED] Funded by a $44,170 (≈$44k) LEAA grant via the NM First Judicial District Attorney's office; Rommel directed it from May 1979. He personally inspected 25 reported-mutilation carcasses. [COMPETING-DOCUMENTED] The June-1980, 297-page report concluded the damage 'clearly indicates that the carcass was damaged by predators and/or scavengers,' that mutilations were 'predominantly the result of natural predation,' though some cases contained unexplained anomalies; Rommel wrote he 'found no credible source' differing and 'no piece of hard evidence' to alter the finding. The report's release effectively ended federal involvement. [DISPUTED] Independent 'mutologists' and RCMP Cpl. Lyn Lauber criticized it - Lauber noting Rommel never personally witnessed a 'real mutilation' and challenging him to write off the RCMP's confirmed Canadian cases as predation.