OleScout
Well-known member
Had a calf born Friday morning. I could see the cow at the back of the pasture from the kitchen window. She was in fighting mode and was running at something on the ground. The something was buzzards.
I told my wife that it looks like we lost another calf. We had a new born die last week.
I rode back there to see what was going on. Before I could get there the calf got up. The cow was fighting in a circle trying to keep the buzzards off the calf. 10-12 buzzards on the ground. When the cow would chase one the others would rush the calf. The buzzards didn't fly until I got close. Cow was upset and circling and the little guy trying to nurse. I backed off and headed back to the house. Before I could get out of the pasture the buzzards were back after the calf. Same deal, cow chase one the others rush the calf. When I chased them off this time the cow took the calf and headed to a little thicket in the pasture. I sat there a while watching. The buzzards circled a bit then seemed to have lost interest. I headed back to the house again. When I got out at the house I could see that two of the buzzards were back and the cow was still having to fight.
Took something with me when I went back, one of the vultures experienced and unfortunate incident and the other flew away at that point.
I now am sure that the new born that died the week before was killed by these black vultures. I saw the calf when it was born, saw it get up and nurse then follow his momma. Few hours later I see the cow fighting buzzards. When I get to them the calf is dead but at that time I didn't suspect the buzzards had actually killed it. After what I saw Friday I am certain that they did!!
Quick internet search and I find this is a big problem up in KY, I had never heard of vultures killing a calf but had I not been off work on Friday I'm sure they would have killed this one.
I told my wife that it looks like we lost another calf. We had a new born die last week.
I rode back there to see what was going on. Before I could get there the calf got up. The cow was fighting in a circle trying to keep the buzzards off the calf. 10-12 buzzards on the ground. When the cow would chase one the others would rush the calf. The buzzards didn't fly until I got close. Cow was upset and circling and the little guy trying to nurse. I backed off and headed back to the house. Before I could get out of the pasture the buzzards were back after the calf. Same deal, cow chase one the others rush the calf. When I chased them off this time the cow took the calf and headed to a little thicket in the pasture. I sat there a while watching. The buzzards circled a bit then seemed to have lost interest. I headed back to the house again. When I got out at the house I could see that two of the buzzards were back and the cow was still having to fight.
Took something with me when I went back, one of the vultures experienced and unfortunate incident and the other flew away at that point.
I now am sure that the new born that died the week before was killed by these black vultures. I saw the calf when it was born, saw it get up and nurse then follow his momma. Few hours later I see the cow fighting buzzards. When I get to them the calf is dead but at that time I didn't suspect the buzzards had actually killed it. After what I saw Friday I am certain that they did!!
Quick internet search and I find this is a big problem up in KY, I had never heard of vultures killing a calf but had I not been off work on Friday I'm sure they would have killed this one.