Boomer and I have been seeing and hearing those wily coyotes quite a bit lately. Ever since we did some night singing with them, they have been, hum, well, L.O.U.D! They have even been right in the fields between Hank’s house and our place.
I guess we shouldn’t have mocked them the other night. (It was fun.)
We’ve been real silent when we hear and see them in the fields close by…the last thing Boomer and I want (and Sammy the Cat) is those wild yellowed-eyed mean ‘ol coyotes coming on INTO the yard, ours or Hanks!
I think the main reason they are so close, so very close, so very, very, very close it is uncomfortable is the new calves popping up all over the place.
The other new predators we have are the ravens and the crows. Mom’s been trying to get a photo of the two of them (the ravens and the crows), but they are slick, slick, slick. Just as soon as she gets close enough to take a photo they fly off.
Now the reason we don’t want the ravens and the crows hanging around is the same reason we don’t want the coyotes….the brand new baby calves.
You see ravens and crows love nothing more than to eat eyeballs. And if they can peck-out a newborn’s eyeball and smack it down for a delicious little lunch, then by golly they do. The Mom cows are pretty good about taking care of the new little kidlets, but still all in all those huge black birds are a danger.
Boomer and I run out into the field whenever we see the huge black birds hopping alongside a new born calf, barking and baying. They flutter up with in a swoosh and then settle right back down. But if we have done a good job, the Momma cow has moved in even closer so we dogs can’t get up by the baby. Or she has run off down the field with the calf, either way we hope the birds leave.
They really aren’t afraid…the birds, I mean. They just fly up a short ways in the air, then settle back down after we turn around and leave.
It took Mom and Dad a little while to figure out we weren’t trying to chase the cows…..I WOULD NEVER CHASE A COW IN MY LIFE—–I AM A COW DOG!!!!! And Boomer?! Well, Boomer just runs along doing whatever I do, so he is basically harmless. When they yell at us to get back into the yard… NOW! We hurry back as fast as our legs can takes us. Then I look at Mom and Dad with indignation and hurt written all over my face. Boomer just smiles and swaps his tail on the ground in a most sincere way. (I can’t whap my tail as I only have a tiny little short one).
Since we seem to be having lots of predator activity Dad talked to the Government Hunter and Trapper. He said there have been a slew of complaints about the coyotes, the fox and the ravens. He said they are working to thin down the populations in the draws surrounding us for about 5 miles in both directions. So I guess we just wait and be very vigilant.
Boomer says we have to stay vigilant and valiant, Hank says he will help.
Mom said, “You boys, you just take care of your yard— the rest of the farm, the draws, the swamp, and the hillsides are up to the rancher, who is renting out our place for his first year heifers, the government hunter and Dad.”
I agreed, the 4 acres of yard, sheds, and barns are enough for Boomer and me.
Fuzzy
Life on a Colorado Farm 