Loose cows

[Dave]

With all the fences and the vast majority of the grass burned up cows are wandering free. Fire tends to jump around and leave little patches which didn't burn. So as the cows graze off those little patches and no fences left to hold them they migrate off to find grass. Being the first place they come to when wandering down the canyon and having green grass out in the hay meadows I make for a good stopping place. This morning I found fresh evidence of wandering cows in my driveway. It didn't take much searching to find 7 pairs eating on my grass.
One of my neighbors didn't loose much grass to the fires. But it was close enough that he went up and opened every gate so the cows could get away from the fire. As a result his cows are well scattered. So today and for the next several days all the neighbor ranchers and cowboys are riding his ground to get his herd gathered. He has his calves contracted and need to be weaned. Plan is to wean them next Saturday. So I guess my wandering in guests will just have to wait a few days until their owners are available come get my guests. No big deal but I wish they wouldn't leave their calling card in the driveway.

 

[Brute 23]

That's how it was with Harvey around here. It took out all the fences for a decent stretch on the prairie. There were just herds of cattle running loose out there. They had to get the power lines back up so people could get in there. Then they had fence crews running along the highway trying to keep cattle off the road. Then went to perimeters of landown owners, and so on.

All in all it went pretty decent. I heard a few stories of disagreements but that is to be expected. Some had to "give" a little more than others. Most people don't have young calves tagged or branded or any thing down here. Some don't even do the cows. It was a good reminder to stay on top of it.

 

[puzzled in oregon]

Cow "graffiti". We were here.

 

[Dave]

That's how it was with Harvey around here. It took out all the fences for a decent stretch on the prairie. There were just herds of cattle running loose out there. They had to get the power lines back up so people could get in there. Then they had fence crews running along the highway trying to keep cattle off the road. Then went to perimeters of landown owners, and so on.

All in all it went pretty decent. I heard a few stories of disagreements but that is to be expected. Some had to "give" a little more than others. Most people don't have young calves tagged or branded or any thing down here. Some don't even do the cows. It was a good reminder to stay on top of it.

About 2 or 3 times a week a group of cows come wandering through. Some come down the road out of the canyon. Some come down out of the hills behind me. People aren't gathering them yet as the longer they stay out the less hay they are going to go through. Well the exception is the neighbor who is gathering now but that is to wean. He will kick the cows back out when he pulls the calves. Every thing here, cows, calves, and bulls are branded.