The Not So Glorious Days of Ranch Life..... When Coyotes Come Calling

This last weekend was one that 'tested' the laws of nature:

1. A 12 year old ventured out by herself in to a field, and found a calf - barely alive - chewed on both ends by coyotes - badly, in the early hours of morning. 
2. A clutch of duckling eggs got overheated under a heat lamp - and so close to hatching
3. A 12 year old, assisted a baby duckling (different clutch) with opening it's shell, and attempted the same with another egg - only to find that the duckling not fully developed.

I can't imagine the visions of #1 and #3 above that filled my brave daughter's mind, and how she could 'keep it all together'.  She  found the calf, it's ears eaten off, it's tail gone, and the back-end chewed into.  As in, through the rectum area and moving up through the cavity. And still, not killed.  Living and having to endure that torture.  No other animals were in the field.  The calf had to have been chased through a fence elsewhere, and chased/tortured to where it ended up, near our home.  That poor poor baby.

I am telling you the gory details because you, are customers, are concerned with animal welfare, and how animals are treated by man, the ranchers.  But, what about how they are treated by predators?

As you can see, I am not holding anything back.  If a 12 year old could not be sheltered from this, than I am not sheltering you either.  This is what happens on a ranch.  Granted, not daily, but it is very disturbing to me.  Most times when coyotes kill they attack the neck, and break it, and kill, then eat.

Not this time.  And, the calf was shot. 

What goes through a mother's mind?

Wanting to protect your children from such atrocities in life.  From such visions. To not have to see something struggling for life, while dying a horrible death.  And, I did not want her out there doing chores alone, knowing that those damn coyotes were close in a pack to our home.

Our policy has always been to shoot coyotes only when caught in the act.  I get the feeling that most our neighbors and the 'greater ranching community' does not like our policy.  I've had a few remarks made to me about what we do and don't do.  For instance, we don't let the helicopter shooters over our ranch to hunt coyotes.  Mainly, because we don't want them scaring any of our animals, and also, my husband does not like anyone on the ranch regardless of their intentions.  Most would rather we shot on sight, regardless of if the coyote is just walking through and minding it's own business. 

I'm sure there is some talk out in our neighborhood about this calf, and what needs to be done to all the coyotes.

And, yes, if we see them we will shoot them.  This is not normal behavior. 


As a mom?  I want them all killed.   

Period.