South Texas mayor killed in apparent donkey attack

Mayor William "Bill" Bohlke died at his ranch in South Texas on Monday following a possible attack by an aggressive male donkey. Bohlke was 65. 

Bohlke's family published a statement on the Hollywood Park town website saying that Bohlke suffered “a fatal injury while taking care of his prized cow herd near Pleasanton," adding, "Bill, your mayor, dearly loved serving you, our community, and we only wish he was here to continue doing so."

According to a local report, Bohlke's body was found Monday night during a search by deputies and relatives. A formal cause of death is pending.

Chief Deputy David Soward told the San Antonio Express-News that donkeys, "can become very aggressive, very mean, sometimes triggered by a female in heat. We'll probably never know what triggered it, but it was evident that this particular donkey was involved, based on the evidence at the scene and what we saw on this donkey.”

Soward told the Associated Press that it is up to the family on what they want to do with the donkey.