BRASELTON — Authorities in northeast Georgia have a mystery on their hands after cows were found mutilated, with neatly-cut circles sliced into their rear ends.

Harold Edge told investigators he found one of his Black Angus cows dead a few weeks ago.

A Jackson County Sheriff's report obtained by The Associated Press states that Edge found another Black Angus dead Jan. 6, with what appeared to be a half-circle cut around the same area of the animal.

Edge told deputies there were no bite marks or indications of animal attacks.

Hall told the Athens Banner-Herald that the cuts were clean, with no jagged edges.

Jackson County Sheriff's Capt. Rich Lott said investigators can't explain the deaths on Edge's pasture near Braselton.