Random STufF from DonnaB

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I saw this smelly critter back in March of this year and thought it was acting very strangely. It was going in circles out in our pasture as I was driving down the road. I took several pictures and moved on. I certainly wasn’t going to get close enough to investigate the strange behavior. I was looking for a cow we were watching due to her being close to calving and when I couldn’t see her from the road, I drove back to our gate and decided to drive into the pasture to find her. While I did eventually find the cow, I was very surprised to see the skunk had made its way across the pasture and was happily enjoying a meal of… what… I just don’t know, but by the time I saw it through my telephoto lens, it was unrecognizable other than another small creature of some sort, either a bird or perhaps a rat.

As I sat and watched and continued to take pictures, Ol’ Stinky acted as if I didn’t matter at all. So, you know what I had to do, don’t you? No, don’t be silly… I did NOT get out of my truck to take closer photos, but I DID drive my truck closer.

I was even more surprised to see in the better view through my lens that this animal was injured and more than likely blind considering the wounds visible and the fact it wasn’t one bit concerned about my presence. They do not see very well anyway and me interrupting its meal wasn’t going to happen.

Skunks help keep rodent populations in check and an estimated 70% of their diets consist of insects harmful to humans, so in fact, they can be your friend… at a safe distance! Although it looks as if I was standing over this animal, I was in my truck and looking down at it. I was only 6 to 7 feet away and hoping it didn’t decide to warn me with that noxious spray. You can see in the following pictures the damaged eye and another hole in the side of its face.

I know you are thinking, “Skunk! Rabies threat! Kill it!”

Sorry, no can do. I think I could if I was absolutely certain it was sick with the disease, but my determination of its behavior was the fact it was hungry, hurt and just trying to survive.

Aren’t we all?

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Although Big John doesn’t look concerned, he is keeping an eye on his girls and offspring.

Aren’t these the best looking animals? The abundant rain this year has made for plenty of grass and all are fat and happy. But still… what’s the deal?

Oh, I’ll stop teasing you now and let you know it was only Ed bottle feeding a baby in the middle of the herd.

The mama cow has mastitis and only one quarter is good for the calf to suck so supplementing is what must be done right now. Definitely a chore, but one we’ve done before and no doubt, will have to do again. In fact, we have another bottle calf in a different pasture. Her mama wouldn’t take her and that is frustrating! The good part is the fact Ed noticed the yellow calf was weak and figured out why. It took a while to determine what the problem was with the crazy mama not wanting hers. Her last year’s calf is still in the pasture since we planned on keeping it and we thought it was weaned. The mama determined that was her ONLY calf and has had nothing to do with the new. Very rare for that to happen, but you know if it will happen, it is bound to happen to us! Oh, the joys and pitfalls of raising cattle!

Evidently, we love it cause 2009 marks our thirty-third year of dealing with them as a couple. The husband grew up on a farm and my grandparents lived on a ranch the majority of their adult lives. Cattle is what we know and love… although, ask us how much we love them when they are not where they are supposed to be. Or, when the temperatures are frigid and they are hungry. Or, when the pools are dry and they need watering. I think we forget the bad times cause there are so many good ones. Not having children, I don’t know that I can compare the two, but I’m thinking it might be similar. You do forget the bad when things are oh so good! And gosh is it good! The pools are level full and the grass is knee deep. I would be hard-pressed to ask for more right now.

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