This hen is from an egg farm. She was stuck in the manure pit beneath the cages.
The story.
21 minutes ago
My Office Assistant
She makes sure I don't spend ALL MY TIME working. Canine office assistants are a needy bunch. I cannot begin to tell you how much I adore being able to bring my pups to work. They make good days great and bad days better.
Idaho Wants to Use Live Bait to Hunt Wolves
Idaho Senate Bill 1305, the Wolf Depredation Control act, would give ranchers and farmers greater ability to go out and kill wolves who kill animals those same ranchers and farmers are planning on killing to feed people. Good times.
The bill allows farmers to hunt wolves within 36 hours of a supposed wolf kill. They can slaughter wolves at night, use live bait, including live sheep or dogs or cats to lure the wolves back so they can blow the wolves away. They can fly in helicopters and airplanes or send drones out to massacre the alleged wolves. And they can track them down using 4WD vehicles. I am totally envisioning that truly iconic scene from Marley Fowat's book, Never Cry Wolf.
I've always found these anti-native predator bills fascinating. For one, what do we expect when we throw a bunch of prey animals in an area with native predators? Two, I love when ranchers claim these bills are because they care about the animals they are raising for...slaughter. That argument feels a bit hollow. I would prefer honesty.
"He estimates the predators are costing the state's livestock industry as much as $2 million a year" He is the author of the bill.
Excellent and thank you. This guy performs a neat trick, though. Predators. Wolves are not the sole predators of sheep, goats or cattle. It is not wolves alone costing "people who raise animals for slaughter" $2 million a year.
But I was curious about the $2 million number.
Farmers lost $1.19 million from sheep predation (26% of all causes)
For cattle, farmers lost around 3.2 million (6% of the total amount lost each year from all causes).
So in actuality, predation costs farmers in Idaho around $4 million (out of a total of about $61 million in losses from all causes). For cattle, respiratory ailments kill as many as predators. For adult sheep, giving birth kills as many as ewes as predators.
But what about wolves?
Wolves account for 30% of cattle kills - less than $1 million. Wolves accounted for $146,000 in sheep losses. Coyotes comprise the majority of sheep and calf kills. I suppose the unique aspect of wolves is they hunt adult cattle, which would be difficult for coyotes.
Still, I have no clue where this guy got the $2 million number - it's not accurate on any front.
Humans are constantly trying to fight nature. It's a ceaseless war against natural predators and their prey. Why can hunters shoot bison if they wander off Yellowstone? Because magically they are going to have sex with all the female cows and give them STDs. We permit the hunting of "prey" animals that may compete with non-native domesticated animals for access to resources. We essentially have an open season on coyotes everywhere because they do what wild canids do. We try to relax federal and state protection for increasingly rare apex predator species - like wolves - because we want to eat beef or lamb or goat meat.
And that does not even touch on the fact we poison, by the millions, native (and non-native) birds who eat the seeds and grains we grow to fatten animals *we* want to eat. Animal agribusiness at its finest.
Despite all that, amazingly, many of these animals - especially coyotes! - manage to survive. I cannot fathom it. We push them off their habitats, keep them away from resources through fencing, shoot them, poison them, trap them, call them pests/dangerous/unwanted...and nature finds a way to keep some of them alive. That won't always be the case, of course. There will come a time when there won't be wild wolves, bison, mountain lions, elk, bighorn sheep, bears...and this world will be a sadder, emptier place. And when the non-native wild boars and native coyotes are gone, you know we're screwed - they are two of the greatest survivors, despite constant pressure from hunting, poison, encroachment, fear and hate.
I hope this bill fails miserably, but I also don't have much hope in the case of Idaho.
The bill allows farmers to hunt wolves within 36 hours of a supposed wolf kill. They can slaughter wolves at night, use live bait, including live sheep or dogs or cats to lure the wolves back so they can blow the wolves away. They can fly in helicopters and airplanes or send drones out to massacre the alleged wolves. And they can track them down using 4WD vehicles. I am totally envisioning that truly iconic scene from Marley Fowat's book, Never Cry Wolf.
I've always found these anti-native predator bills fascinating. For one, what do we expect when we throw a bunch of prey animals in an area with native predators? Two, I love when ranchers claim these bills are because they care about the animals they are raising for...slaughter. That argument feels a bit hollow. I would prefer honesty.
"He estimates the predators are costing the state's livestock industry as much as $2 million a year" He is the author of the bill.
Excellent and thank you. This guy performs a neat trick, though. Predators. Wolves are not the sole predators of sheep, goats or cattle. It is not wolves alone costing "people who raise animals for slaughter" $2 million a year.
But I was curious about the $2 million number.
Farmers lost $1.19 million from sheep predation (26% of all causes)
For cattle, farmers lost around 3.2 million (6% of the total amount lost each year from all causes).
So in actuality, predation costs farmers in Idaho around $4 million (out of a total of about $61 million in losses from all causes). For cattle, respiratory ailments kill as many as predators. For adult sheep, giving birth kills as many as ewes as predators.
But what about wolves?
Wolves account for 30% of cattle kills - less than $1 million. Wolves accounted for $146,000 in sheep losses. Coyotes comprise the majority of sheep and calf kills. I suppose the unique aspect of wolves is they hunt adult cattle, which would be difficult for coyotes.
Still, I have no clue where this guy got the $2 million number - it's not accurate on any front.
Humans are constantly trying to fight nature. It's a ceaseless war against natural predators and their prey. Why can hunters shoot bison if they wander off Yellowstone? Because magically they are going to have sex with all the female cows and give them STDs. We permit the hunting of "prey" animals that may compete with non-native domesticated animals for access to resources. We essentially have an open season on coyotes everywhere because they do what wild canids do. We try to relax federal and state protection for increasingly rare apex predator species - like wolves - because we want to eat beef or lamb or goat meat.
And that does not even touch on the fact we poison, by the millions, native (and non-native) birds who eat the seeds and grains we grow to fatten animals *we* want to eat. Animal agribusiness at its finest.
Despite all that, amazingly, many of these animals - especially coyotes! - manage to survive. I cannot fathom it. We push them off their habitats, keep them away from resources through fencing, shoot them, poison them, trap them, call them pests/dangerous/unwanted...and nature finds a way to keep some of them alive. That won't always be the case, of course. There will come a time when there won't be wild wolves, bison, mountain lions, elk, bighorn sheep, bears...and this world will be a sadder, emptier place. And when the non-native wild boars and native coyotes are gone, you know we're screwed - they are two of the greatest survivors, despite constant pressure from hunting, poison, encroachment, fear and hate.
I hope this bill fails miserably, but I also don't have much hope in the case of Idaho.
Gross Times Ahead - Reminder, Dogs are Dogs
Fair warning.
This past weekend, I helped plant strawberries at work. This is so I feel no guilt when I eat five million strawberries later this year. I can point to the strawberry and be all I PLANTED IT and then stuff it in my face.
I brought Celeste, because she is a certified Farm Dog. She really would be the perfect companion on any (VEGETABLE) farm. She respects big farm equipment, loves running appropriately behind the mule (of the non-equine variety), and can distract herself by rolling in the grass.
While I helped plant, Celeste busied herself. She fancies herself a grand huntress, but in her five years of existence, she has only caught one animal (a baby mole). I figured that was a good track record for the little bits in the field.
Wishful thinking.
Celeste is now a bona fide gopher huntress. I am not hiring her out, because I told her killing gophers is rude. She responded with a firm, goofy "BUT I EATS THEM!" If she could truly talk, it would be in caps.
She caught and ate four gophers. Yes, I let her eat them. I balked at her rolling in them, though, but she ignored me.
This is a dog who thinks babies are to be coddled. She adores human beings fiercely. Celeste is what I would describe as respectful and mostly polite. Around humans, she is submissive (grin!) and believes we can do no wrong.
Out in that field, though, she expressed her canine instincts. There was nothing grotesque or barbaric about it. She did not play with the gophers or prolong their deaths. Each was dispatched quickly and efficiently. That she did not need to hunt to survive could not dampen whatever primal urge she had to pounce and kill.
I am not glorifying her, I am recognizing her. The creature who digs in the dirt, rolls in poop, samples dead things, and at night, curls up next to Mina on the bed. In those moments out in the pasture, she reminds me of the divide between us. She may be a long-since domesticated wild canid, but nothing can tether or chain or collar her desire to express what are, to her, innate behaviors.
No, I will not encourage her to chase other animals. I have no right to do so - Celeste does not need to hunt to survive, so when I can, I will call her to me and walk the other way. But I offer no harsh judgment on her behavior. There is nothing malicious or unkind about it. While I do believe dogs are capable of mean-spirited acts and a canine version of compassion or kindness, what Celeste is showed me is far less complex. It's just her, channeling centuries of evolution unhindered by human domestication.
This past weekend, I helped plant strawberries at work. This is so I feel no guilt when I eat five million strawberries later this year. I can point to the strawberry and be all I PLANTED IT and then stuff it in my face.
I brought Celeste, because she is a certified Farm Dog. She really would be the perfect companion on any (VEGETABLE) farm. She respects big farm equipment, loves running appropriately behind the mule (of the non-equine variety), and can distract herself by rolling in the grass.
While I helped plant, Celeste busied herself. She fancies herself a grand huntress, but in her five years of existence, she has only caught one animal (a baby mole). I figured that was a good track record for the little bits in the field.
Wishful thinking.
Celeste is now a bona fide gopher huntress. I am not hiring her out, because I told her killing gophers is rude. She responded with a firm, goofy "BUT I EATS THEM!" If she could truly talk, it would be in caps.
She caught and ate four gophers. Yes, I let her eat them. I balked at her rolling in them, though, but she ignored me.
This is a dog who thinks babies are to be coddled. She adores human beings fiercely. Celeste is what I would describe as respectful and mostly polite. Around humans, she is submissive (grin!) and believes we can do no wrong.
Out in that field, though, she expressed her canine instincts. There was nothing grotesque or barbaric about it. She did not play with the gophers or prolong their deaths. Each was dispatched quickly and efficiently. That she did not need to hunt to survive could not dampen whatever primal urge she had to pounce and kill.
I am not glorifying her, I am recognizing her. The creature who digs in the dirt, rolls in poop, samples dead things, and at night, curls up next to Mina on the bed. In those moments out in the pasture, she reminds me of the divide between us. She may be a long-since domesticated wild canid, but nothing can tether or chain or collar her desire to express what are, to her, innate behaviors.
No, I will not encourage her to chase other animals. I have no right to do so - Celeste does not need to hunt to survive, so when I can, I will call her to me and walk the other way. But I offer no harsh judgment on her behavior. There is nothing malicious or unkind about it. While I do believe dogs are capable of mean-spirited acts and a canine version of compassion or kindness, what Celeste is showed me is far less complex. It's just her, channeling centuries of evolution unhindered by human domestication.
A translation for your benefit
This article is totes hilarious. That is different than the situation being funny, because it wasn't. An idiot walking his dog was confronted by a police officer after he crossed the street illegally. Instead of just stopping and being like "crap, mr. policeman, I'm sorry" the dude ran. And he dropped his dog's leash.
But what would be a Pit Bull article without a little drama? NOT NEWS, that's what.
In fact, the title of the whole article is "Suspect sics dog on officer". Now if you're me, this suggests a dog on human attack. Nothing of the kind happened, but again, a Pit Bull article is only the awesome if there is some epic stuff going on.
For example, "ordered the animal to bite the pursuing officer by saying "Sic him!" according to Krewson.The officer was able to outrun the dog"
Have you EVER been able to outrun a healthy, adult dog? Like ever?
I have. It has occurred under the following circumstances:
1. I have outrun a dog who did not chase me.
2. I have outrun a dog walking.
3. I have outrun a dog going in the opposite direction.
4. I have outrun a dog on a 6' lead when I was already 10' away.
I have not, however, attempted to or succeeded at outrunning a dog chasing after me at his full, healthy stride.
My theory is that the dog did not actually try to chase the officer but trotted after because, hey, his guardian went in the same direction so why not follow?
The officer ended up cornering the suspect who was acting a fool and got himself tased.
Then multiple officers arrived. AND CHAOS ENSUED.
"By that time multiple officers were at the scene, and feared the dog might try to protect its owner and attack the police when they detained Gonzalez, Krewson said. The officers were able to "ruse the dog away from" Gonzalez, and into a patrol car before hand-cuffing Gonzalez"
Translation: Officer was all "get in my car" and dog was all "yep, sounds fabulous."
The only individual who posed a threat to anyone was the person, not the dog. A story without a Pit Bull acting neurotic is not a real story, though.
But what would be a Pit Bull article without a little drama? NOT NEWS, that's what.
In fact, the title of the whole article is "Suspect sics dog on officer". Now if you're me, this suggests a dog on human attack. Nothing of the kind happened, but again, a Pit Bull article is only the awesome if there is some epic stuff going on.
For example, "ordered the animal to bite the pursuing officer by saying "Sic him!" according to Krewson.The officer was able to outrun the dog"
Have you EVER been able to outrun a healthy, adult dog? Like ever?
I have. It has occurred under the following circumstances:
1. I have outrun a dog who did not chase me.
2. I have outrun a dog walking.
3. I have outrun a dog going in the opposite direction.
4. I have outrun a dog on a 6' lead when I was already 10' away.
I have not, however, attempted to or succeeded at outrunning a dog chasing after me at his full, healthy stride.
My theory is that the dog did not actually try to chase the officer but trotted after because, hey, his guardian went in the same direction so why not follow?
The officer ended up cornering the suspect who was acting a fool and got himself tased.
Then multiple officers arrived. AND CHAOS ENSUED.
"By that time multiple officers were at the scene, and feared the dog might try to protect its owner and attack the police when they detained Gonzalez, Krewson said. The officers were able to "ruse the dog away from" Gonzalez, and into a patrol car before hand-cuffing Gonzalez"
Translation: Officer was all "get in my car" and dog was all "yep, sounds fabulous."
The only individual who posed a threat to anyone was the person, not the dog. A story without a Pit Bull acting neurotic is not a real story, though.
Goats Have Accents
According to a recent study, goats develop accents dependent on their ecological niche (or location).
I think this is neat information, especially considering I work for an organization that rescues goats (and other farmed animals) from different locations and situations.
It makes me wonder if incoming goats have unique accents that may be misunderstood by the current herd. Or despite accents, is the content still understandable?
Did you ever know you're my hero?
Mina would like Hen to know she does not think Hen was stupid for running back into a burning building. Actually, she does, because Mina can be pretty mean-spirited sometimes. But *I* don't want Hen to feel bad or anything about running back into a burning building. We're both happy she's alive and is also named after the female gender of the chicken species.
A lame law in Hays County you can now oppose
“the owner of a dog that is known to have attacked sheep, goats, calves, or other domestic animals or fowls shall kill the dog. A Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff, constable, police officer or magistrate may enter the premises of the owner of the dog if the owner fails to do so”.
