Why then all the panic? It seems much of the distress arises from a misunderstanding regarding the relationship between “witches” and black cats used in ritualistic sacrifices. Witches would never harm their “familiars” who are supposed to be their eyes and ears in the spirit world. To harm a familiar is to blind and deafen oneself.
This misunderstanding took on a twisted life of its own during
the 1998 Halloween season when suspected Satanists were sought in nine states for
“mutilations” that drew sensational media coverage and rewards up to $10,000. That incident etched its way into the
national consciousness. However, few
people remember that the investigators ultimately learned that these
“mutilations” were the natural product of wildlife predation.
Each summer since then one community or another has suffered
an emotional panic coinciding with the appearance of young coyotes from their
dens and the first hunt of newly fledged raptors. These panics increased in intensity with the public’s
preoccupation with witches, ghouls, and goblins, but abruptly ended after Halloween
- unlike cases of human sadism.
Police and humane officers are trained to investigate
human-inflicted cruelty but often have little experience in predator behavior. This sometimes leads to forensic evidence being
misread in ways that incite witch-hunts.
Unlike human sadists, animal predators are quick and
efficient, avoiding waste. Their teeth
and claws cut more cleanly than a knife and they don't leave much blood behind.
When time permits, they consume the
richest organs and leave the rest.
Coyotes typically attack small prey (such as cats) from
behind and side, with a scissors-like jaw snap to the backbone that frequently
cuts the victim in half. When startled,
they flee with the back half and whatever internal organs come along, leaving
the head and forepaws. These are examples of cases most often misread by
investigators as ritualistic crimes.
When prey survives a first strike, coyotes and wild cats
will inflict a skull-crunching bite to the head. Several panics over alleged sadists drilling
mysterious holes in the skulls of pets were resolved when investigators found the
holes aligned with the incisors of wild predators.
Alleged “skinned alive” cases involving pets were actually coyotes
and raptors mistaking pets for smaller prey. The predator holds on with teeth or
claws while the victim runs causing a set of sharp, straight cuts investigators
describe as "filets."
Raptors account for cases where entrails are draped over
cars, porches, trees, signs, and mailboxes.
They take flight with their prey and parts fall out. Crows account for cases where eyes, lips,
anuses, and female genitals are removed from fallen livestock.
Some trace black cat adoption moratoriums to early 20th
Century New York Giants manager John McGraw.
McGraw was notoriously superstitious, so fans (mostly gamblers) tossed
black cats in front of the Giants' dugout to jinx him. The American Baseball League quickly adopted
a rule against continuing a game when an animal is on the field and many humane
societies started prohibiting black cat adoptions during the World Series which
often occurs around Halloween.
This Halloween don’t be scared out
of saving the life of a pet of any color!
October is YHS’ Back in Black Adopt-a-thon and all black animals are available
for adoption at a price you pick!
Ed Boks is the executive director of the Yavapai Humane Society. He
can be reached at eboks@yavapaihumane.org or by calling 445-2666, ext.
21.
Posts
