Oko Yamni

Monday, Mar 8 to Sunday, Mar 14, 2010: high 48, low 19

A dangerous spring blizzard blew in overnight so awoke early Thursday morning to howling winds and blowing snow. These blizzards are hazardous for humans, and also for livestock, especially cattle since this is calving time. If a mother cow in a natural habitat does not get her newborn calf up and suckling within ten minutes or so, her calf will likely die of exposure. So ranchers keep all night watch of their herds, checking them every quarter hour or so during blizzard conditions, and if a mother doesn’t get her calf up right away, then the calf is taken into a barn or even the house. If the cow will not follow into the barn, or does not actively try to lick her calf and get it suckling, then the calf is warmed up and fed condensed milk or some other milk substitute. Once the calf is sufficiently warmed and fed, then it and its mother are reunited.