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As she walked past, the two kids, hanging dead in a tree, caught her eye.

Thinking it odd, the woman called the sheriff to report 13 dead kids — as in baby goats — in a ditch on Rupprecht’s Valley Road north of Lewiston, Winona County Sheriff Ron Ganrude said.

On receipt of the call at 3:30 p.m. Monday, deputy was dispatched. He found the goats just off the township road, down a steep bank, in an area littered with garbage, apparently used as a dumpsite for some time.

From what could be observed at the scene, the deputy surmised that the goats died elsewhere from natural causes and were brought to the scene. The persons responsible appeared to have pulled over to the side of the road and thrown the carcasses down the embankment, two of them landing and lodging in a tree growing at the base of the ravine.

Ganrude said neighboring farmers and residents have been contacted and none have any knowledge of goats, living or dead, in the area. Likewise, local veterinarians could cast no light on what might be a case of mass capricide — or the irresponsible disposal of a number of goats that sickened and died.

Lacking evidence of theft, abuse or other foul play, the person or persons responsible could be cited for littering, Ganrude said.

“The situation is under investigation.”

Jerome Christenson is deputy editor at the Winona Daily News, which means he does just about anything that needs doing whenever somebody needs to do it. You’ll see his name attached to a regular column, historical features, news stories and other accounts of odd happenings around town and around the area. His phone number is 507-453-3522 — leave a message if he’s not around — or email at jerome.christenson@winonadailynews.com.

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