The Twins: Apollo and Meander

I can't tell these boys apart!  Withers.

Cheyenne

Robin

Oconee

Gaia

Bucky

L.S. Quinarius

Hera

Mojave

Pearl

Buckeye "DJ"

sitting on pasture watching the goats graze

Starburst

Clover

Dancer

THE HUNT: OPENING DAY

I have several parts of the farm designated as wildlife refuges.  Wild animals are constantly being bombarded with threats of our modern society - mainly from human encroachment.

The parts of our land that house these creatures are untouched old growth forests, brush, apple trees, and marsh land.

One time a neighbor with 200 acres was spotted hunting on the farm here - "what are you doing", I asked.  "Hunting on your land", he responded.  "Why?" "Because the deer are hiding in your brush."

I was baffled that someone would come onto someone's land to hunt - right near my house - without notice of any kind.  It happened more than once.  Another incident, a neighbor with posted signs littered on the fenced in borders of his land - caught hunting on ours - the reason it was okay - according to him - we had no posted signs.

I hate those signs - they are an eyesore to the environment - and not required to keep others off your own land.  They must ask permission before they hunt on someone else's land.  There are many rules in hunting.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8371.html

Q. Must I post to keep people off my property?

A. No. Trespassing is illegal even on unposted property.  At any time, anyone asked to leave the premises, posted or not, by the landowner, occupant or other authorized person, must do so immediately.

This is a hunting lookout that another person built on 200 acres - elaborate...

My feelings on those that eat meat are they do the animals a service when they are humanely shot in the field rather than put through a factory farming life.  That said, there are rules of fair play and human decency that should be followed.  Men that are hunters are often compassionate people and hunt to the rule of law.

This is a photo of some of our reserved land for wildlife.

I love this view from our upper pasture. The goats, dogs, cats, and I walk every so often to take in the view.   Mt Markham, the flat faced mountain,  is 1700 feet above sea level.  The valley view is nice too.  There was a time they were going to dam up the valley for water and flood control as part of the Susquehanna River basin. 

Animal Memories: Further

2009-2015

Further, our first goat, just passed.  She, along with her sister Sorrelina, were purchased from a dairy farm near Syracuse.  Gene named her Further for the distance we drove to purchase her.

.........details vary as to the life expectancy of a goat. For sure, the dairy business kills their ladies not long after their 6th year - if that long.  It is a fact, most dairy animals have short lifespans.

However, our goats are treated like pets - they are not over bred, given a variety of pasture, hay, and feed.  Yet, some of them have succumbed to scours  - it is very difficult to overcome.  At times, our goat, Further,  perked up, but once she was unable to steady herself on her own four legs - we knew she was not much longer for this world.

I wonder if the goat people who sold these goats had this problem in the herd? Many people report a 6 year lifespan for their goats, yet science reports a lifespan into 18 years of age. As caregivers, we want to give them the best possible life - which includes - quality, comfort, and time!  We'll keep trying and report back on successes and failures...

The Human-ess of Mammals

photo from Washington Post