Now I am really ticked off about the Dakota Access Pipeline protest.

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association says that butchered cattle, horses and bison and missing livestock have been reported next to the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp near Cannon Ball, N.D.

According to the NDSA, the cases involve two horses, four cows and three bison that were killed and butchered, and 30 head of cattle that are missing.

No one has been arrested yet. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association has a standing reward of up to $14,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person stealing, butchering or shooting cattle, horses or mules in the state.

BUTCHERED CATTLE: There have been reports of cattle, bison and a horse near the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp being butchered. About 30 head of cattle are missing.

Anyone with information about these cases should call NDSA Chief Brand Inspector Stan Misek at 701-223-2522 or 701-720- 2430, or Sioux County Sheriff Frank Landeis at 701-854-3481.

NDSA isn’t accusing the pipeline protesters. But the animals were taken from pastures next to the camps. “They are missing from right beside the camps, right there,” NDSA Chief Brand Inspector Stan Misek told the Bismarck, N.D., Tribune. “We don’t know. We don’t know for sure. We’re just putting it out there and hopefully somebody will come forward.”

NDSA recommends producers keep an up-to-date head count of their livestock, be on the watch for any unusual activity and/or strange vehicles in their area, and notify the NDSA or law enforcement of anything out of the ordinary.

My take: While there is no evidence Dakota Access Pipeline protesters killed, butchered and stole the animals, the lawlessness in the region created by some of the protesters clearly is spilling out onto farms and ranches. It’s got to stop. Can you imagine what would have happened if the rancher had driven up on whoever was butchering the animals? State and federal authorities need to resolve pipeline protest now — or shut it down — before a protester, law enforcement officer or a rancher gets killed.