SCP-7461 attempting to use its lure (taken from safe viewing angle.)
Item #: SCP-7461
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-7461 must be contained in a 20m x 20m x 3m cell with basalt walls, with a layer of dirt and straw covering the floor for comfort. It must be fitted with a muzzle, which may be loosened once daily during feeding. SCP-7461 should be offered 12kg wheat and barley mixed together with any meat offal. To enforce good behaviors, small quantities of flesh taken from recently deceased cadavers may be offered. During feeding, all attending personnel are required to look away from SCP-7461, viewing it only from a side angle when reattaching its muzzle. SCP-7461's muzzle must be loosened enough to allow food intake, but worn at all times. Food should be transferred into the enclosure through a slot in the door.
SCP-7461 exhibits zoochotic behaviors if not interacted with its current handler frequently. As such, it should be allowed a minimum of 15 minutes of interaction with Dr. Evan Moren within its containment cell each day. Should its current handler change, the above instructions should be repeated with the new handler. SCP-7461's enclosure should be entered only for feeding or in the event of a life-threatening injury. Dr. Moren should not be permitted to enter while SCP-7461 is unmuzzled, nor be allowed to remove its muzzle himself. An enforced glass window must be installed on the door to allow SCP-7461 visual contact with outside personnel. Due to SCP-7461’s arthritis, movement within the enclosure is generally limited but should be encouraged.
Internal pattern as observed on tongue of SCP-7461
Description: SCP-7461 is an anomalous animal resembling a large haflinger horse of indeterminable sex, age estimated around 25 years of age. It weighs in at 614 kg, and has a distinctive black muzzle. It has malformed hooves, which split open at the bottom to reveal fleshy, gill-like appendages which are capable of absorbing oxygen from water, alongside retractable pectoral and pelvic fins. Inside of its mouth is a row of canines and incisors where molars would typically be present, accompanied by a bioluminescent pattern on the roof of mouth, tongue and upper throat. This segment glows approximately 400 lumens during the day, and up to 1600 at night.
Any animal who stares at this light for more than 5-12 seconds will fall into a lethargic and docile state, attempting to approach SCP-7461. SCP-7461 will attack the subject (generally breaking the body with the use of its hooves and teeth) and either leave the body or consume it. The subject will not show any signs of resistance during this attack, and if removed from SCP-7461's presence, will become extremely distressed unless returned. This effect appears to diminish over time, though no counts of full recovery are yet recorded. "Chronic" cases of SCP-7461's effects typically manifest as repeated nightmares, complemented by repeated requests to be returned to the anomaly. This affect is not replicated through photography or videography.
While not appearing sapient, SCP-7461 typically follows a consistent behavioral pattern when not contained; SCP-7461 will traverse its habitat until coming across a human that it assigns as its "handler". The means of choosing this individual are not understood, but the individual will typically be anywhere between the first and third human seen since the death of its previous handler.
SCP-7461 will present itself to this person, and become extremely sociable towards its handler, allowing itself to be briddled and ridden without protest. It will follow all instructions given to it by its handler with notable understanding, including putting itself in the way of minor harm. SCP-7461 will avoid using its lure on its handler- however, if SCP-7461 does not receive adequate sustenance and is disallowed from hunting, it will turn on its handler and dispatch of them (typically by drowning its prey in a nearby body of water or trampling them), before devouring them. This behavior has also been recorded to occur should SCP-7461 be neglected or upset in other ways, including incidents of deliberate mistreatment or explicit attempts to transfer the anomaly's ownership.
Addendum 7461-1: Discovery.
SCP-7461 was discovered in Cork County, Ireland, after an emergency call was intercepted from the owner of a local farm. Upon arrival, the caller, 47 year old Nolan Murphy, had been killed by SCP-7461 alongside his daughter, 24 year old Kathy Murphy. Nolan's son, ████████ Murphy survived the ordeal by hiding in a feed barrel. Murphy was taken in for interview, then upon proving capable of giving only a rudimentary account of events, was dosed with a class B amnesiac and admitted to a local psychiatric hospital for further treatment.
Upon capture, SCP-7461 became extremely docile, repeatedly attempting to approach the team's attending cryptozoologist, Dr. Evan Moren. The anomaly was muzzled and led into a containment vehicle and transported to Site 400 for processing.
Interviewed: ████████ Ronan Murphy
Interviewer: Capt. █████ ████, commander of retrieval team "Magpie".
Foreword: Interview conducted on the Murphy property immediately following the capture of SCP-7461
<Begin Log, 21:08, June 15th, 2021>
████: [Interviewer sits down, offering interviewed water, which is declined.] Hey now, you're going to be fine. You're out of danger, alright? We just need you to give us your account
Murphy: Y-you're sure? Really sure? I don't think any ordinary pen will-
████: We're certain.
Murphy: I saw that thing bring down the garage door with one kick, I don't think any ordinary horse trailer will-
████: We'll take that into account. Now please, can you give us your version of events?
Murphy: Right, right, sorry. We, um, we had that thing show up a couple months ago. Barmbrack, we called him. He used to be over at the neighbor's farm, but the neighbor stopped showing up to tend to it one day and it broke out, so we thought there was no harm in taking it in, so-
████: When was the last you saw your neighbor before they went missing?
Murphy: Oh. February, maybe? [Interviewed pauses to rub eyes.] I dunno if I'd call Sean 'missing', though. He'd always screw off and leave his animals behind. Dunno what he was up to, but I assumed he'd gone off acting the maggot or found a lass to run off with. Saw that damn horse wander its field for days before it came up to us asking for handouts. Moody thing, but a good enough riding horse for the ould fella. Never left his side, I swear. [interviewed hesitates again.] …damned. Is he really…? [Interviewer nods.] Right. Alright.
████: We're… we're very sorry for your loss. We're here to ensure nothing like what you saw happens again, you understand? That's why we're asking you.
Murphy: No, yeah, I know. I really don't know what happened, sir. I was in the barn when it all happened, heard Kath scream before I saw Brack thrashing about. Dad must've seen, he'd be the one who'd sent out the call.
████: And you were…
Murphy: Hiding, sir. I was hiding up until you guards showed up. [Covers face.] I'm sorry, sir.
████: I understand. Thank you for your cooperation.
<End Log, 21:12>
Closing Statement: ████████ Murphy requested to attend the funeral services of Nolan and Kathy prior to amnestic administration, which was granted under supervision. He has formally requested no further contact be made.