***CSIF Exclusive News***
(June 19, 2007) For the second time in less than four months Iowa environmental officials are investigation the origins of hog carcasses discovered near an Iowa water resource.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports that more than 30 decomposed hogs were identified June 17 in the Raccoon River near Sac City. The news comes on the heels of 8-12 dead hogs weighing as much as 250 pounds discovered earlier this spring along a 40-mile stretch in Tama County. That investigation is ongoing.
DNR environmental specialist Tom Roos said that at least 50 dead hogs were reportedly found three-fourths of a mile away from Haage Park in Sac City Sunday. DNR officials investigating the area today ultimately identified the remains of 31 hogs.
A source close to the investigation reported to CSIF that canoers made the disturbing discovery along a popular yet somewhat secluded area of the river. The hogs weighed 20-30 pounds each.
“Overnight the river rose around a foot, so some of the carcasses may have sunk or washed away,” Roos said.
He estimated the hogs were dumped late last week due to the advanced state of decomposition. River levels were estimated at 2-5 feet.
Those investigating the situation said the carcasses did not include tags or tattoos. They were, however, confident that they found the dump location.
“We have a pretty good idea where the dump occurred,” Roos said. “It’s at a dead-end dirt road on private property. We could tell a truck had been back there and the grass along the river bank was trampled down. The carcasses were found beginning at that location and spots south.”
The DNR and conservation officials began discussions today with livestock farmers living in a 2-3 mile radius of the dump location to start piecing together the origins of the dead livestock.
All the farmers we visited with today in the immediate area were very cooperative,” Roos said. “They gave us free access to look at the size of their livestock and to obtain the information we needed.”
On June 19, the Sac County Pork Producers Association and the Sac County Farm Bureau joined together in offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible.
The public is asked to avoid the affected area in case of potential health risks. Anyone with information is urged to contact the DNR Spencer Field Office at (712) 262-4177.