Dead cattle, devastation left in wake of Western fires

[NiceFarmer31]

VOLBORG, Mont. — Cecil and Delores Kolka thought they escaped the worst of the Ash Creek Fire when the 390-square-mile blaze spared their home and several pastures as it ripped through the couple's Montana cattle ranch.

But when the family went to round up their livestock they encountered carnage — the charred and bloated bodies of an estimated 400 cows and calves killed as the fire torched a series of narrow, thickly forested draws on the nearby Custer National Forest.

Some surviving animals were burned so badly that their hides were peeling. The worst off were shot in mercy killings. Others now limp by on burnt hooves, and less than half the family's herd remains.

"Before we found our cattle we said at least we've got our homes and are all safe," Delores Kolka said. "In truth, we would have rather lost everything here except our cattle."

http://agrinewspk.blogspot.com/2012/07/ ... ke-of.html

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

My heart goes out to those folks and their suffering animals as well.

 

[tom4018]

I actually thought the loses would be higher, it is a terrible thing.

 

[MistyMorning]

I actually thought the loses would be higher, it is a terrible thing.

Traditional northern plains fire season is just starting, there could be A LOT more loss.

"Before we found our cattle we said at least we've got our homes and are all safe," Delores Kolka said. "In truth, we would have rather lost everything here except our cattle."

Must have been a terrible thing to see.

 

[Limomike]

With all this drought, fire is the worst enemy, then the lack of water with it too. So sorry for those folks..

 

[Dave]

The Long Draw fire in South Eastern Oregon burned 582,000 acres. That is over 909 square miles. I don't think they know yet how many cows were lost. Certainly a lot of wildlife. There were ranches that were able to get most of the cows out of the way but now all their feed has been burned up.