162: The Great UFO Conspiracy, Part 2: The Rise of the Mutes, 1973-1979

162: The Great UFO Conspiracy, Part 2: The Rise of the Mutes, 1973-1979

Author: Rob Kristoffersen July 31, 2023 Duration: 1:08:55

“Is it saucers, satanists or CIA?” wrote Tom Adams in Stigmata, the only zine dedicated to the cattle mutilation phenomenon of the 1970s and 80s, and by the end of the decade, researchers and investigators were no closer to finding the culprit.

The road to the greatest UFO conspiracy of all time is a windy one, laced with paranoia, shady figures, and a carcass count in the tens of thousands. The mute phenomenon was a slow moving one that gradually gained momentum until it led to ranchers arming themselves against mystery helicopters and out-of-town strangers.

Still, there were a number of oddities during this time period. In Montana, Cascade County accounted for nearly every type of phenomenon associated with their mute cases, including the discovery of a “cult” site and the appearance of that big hairy guy that likes to hang out in the Pacific Northwest, Bigfoot. In Colorado, cases reached an epidemic proportion, and the culprits were brave enough to leave one carcass at NORAD’s front gate. And on Manuel Gomez’s ranch in Dulce, New Mexico, the perpetrators planted evidence to make it seem like the government was definitely involved.

Regardless, the mute phenomenon reached epidemic proportions, leading one U.S. Senator to convene the first conference on the topic. A conference that would lead to the greatest UFO conspiracy of all time.

Special thanks to Brennan Storr (The Ghost Story Guys), Philip Keating (Botched Podcast, Imaginary Nomad on Twitch), Emily Louise (Weird Reads with Emily Louise), Ash, Ryan Sprague (Somewhere in the Skies) and David Riedel.

Sources:

“The Enduring Panic About Cow Mutilations” by Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, May 8, 2023

Stalking the Herd: Unraveling the Cattle Mutilation Mystery by Christopher O’Brien

“Mind Blowing Soul-Suckers??” by Staff Writer, Stigmata, No 5

“Ordeal in Arkansas” by Staff Writer, Stigmata, No 4

The Night Mutilators by Gene Duplantier

Dulce Base The Truth and Evidence From the Case Files of Gabe Valdez by Greg Valdez

“Wave of Mutilation: The Cattle Mutilation Phenomenon of the 1970s” by Michael J. Goleman, The Agricultural History Society, 2011

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

Welcome UFO People Prints Are Now Available! 

Check out ourstrangeskies.com for all things related to the podcast!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


There's a long, winding story written across our collective past that doesn't always make it into the official records. Our Strange Skies: UFOs Throughout History follows that thread, tracing the phenomenon from ancient accounts to modern-day encounters. Host Rob Kristoffersen approaches these tales not just as mysteries, but as integral parts of our cultural and historical fabric, examining how they reflect the anxieties and imaginations of their times. Each episode focuses on a specific case, era, or theme, blending documented reports with the broader lore that has grown around them. You'll hear detailed breakdowns of famous sightings, deep dives into lesser-known incidents, and thoughtful discussions on topics ranging from reported abductions to the cryptic creatures often associated with these skies. Rob's conversations with a rotating cast of researchers, historians, and fellow experts add layers of context, ensuring the narrative is grounded even when the subject matter is decidedly ungrounded. This isn't about sensationalism; it's a careful, curious exploration of why these stories persist and what they tell us about ourselves. Tune into this podcast for a thoughtful journey through the archives of the unexplained, where history meets mystery head-on.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Our Strange Skies: UFOs Throughout History
Podcast Episodes
Here... at the end of all things... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:15
I do not regret what I've said. I've had a blast. Hope you've enjoyed it. Create recklessly, give money to those who do, fight the fucking power, and carry on. See ya.
The End Notes, Volume 2: Rambling with John Tenney [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:21
John Tenney stops by the pod, and we ramble about the sanity of experiencers, how easy it is to feed your delusion on magical thinking, manifestation and doing magic for others instead of yourself, the contactees, the UF…
The Endnotes, Vol. 1: The Davey Grusch of It All [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:41
What's up, Patrons. I sat down with my buddy, Spencer Wirth-Davis (The What If? Podcast) to talk about David Grusch's appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. From one man's martyrdom, to a talk about muscle cars and A.I.…
Our Strange Skies: After Dark, Vol 2: Dark Harder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:50
On this installment of OSS After Dark that is definitely NSFW, Jeff and I bring you the story of one woman's fling with a smelly alien, Claude (who would go on to found the Raelien movement) proudly showing off his bague…
The Hum and the Silence, Vol 23: The Huron Visitations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:16
Hello patrons! For this bonus episode we dive into the experiences of Vera L. Perry and Millar Faber, two strangers who experienced Bigfoot like activity in association with UFOs, unmarked helicopters, disgruntled police…
The Hum and the Silence, Vol 22: The 50 States Project: California [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:18
Look, is this project a mistake? Probably, but I will attempt to dethrone Sufjan Stevens and make this 50 states thing work! Anyway, today I bring you some really strange cases from California, including what may be the…
The Hum and the Silence, Vol. 21: The Experiences of Paul Bennet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:41
What's up, patrons! So, I ended up getting Covid, which delayed this episode by a week, and I proudly made it through most of this episode... before coughing (don't worry I edited them all out... I think). On this instal…
The Hum and the Silence, Vol 20: The Pennine Addendum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:46
On this installment of The Hum and the Silence Jenny Randles gets into an altercation with Peter Robertson, and we look at an article featuring a fae encounter connected to Randles' book The Pennine UFO Mystery. Special…