Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary for primates.

cattle

Snippets

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Here are a few moments that I captured on my phone throughout the past week.

People often ask if it’s difficult to care for chimpanzees without being able to touch them outside of the very limited contact we have through the mesh. Perhaps it’s a function of the institutional cultures in which we were trained, but it’s not something I really think about. Nor do I care much about it when it does cross my mind. They have their world, we have ours, and there are clearly-defined, logical rules for the areas where those two worlds meet for the sake of everyone’s safety. The way we interact with the chimps in our care becomes natural and comfortable for both them and us, and pushing those boundaries does nothing but put our own desires above their best interests.

That being said, there’s not a person on earth that’s seen Mave in action and not wanted to be enveloped in her soft, fuzzy embrace.

So sue me.

Sunday Morning, Rain is (Not) Falling

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On this lazy Sunday morning everyone was doing their thing and hanging out in their favorite spots while taking in the warm breeze. Enjoy some moments I captured this morning!

Usually, Neggie can be found nesting in the top platform of the green house on nice mornings.

When Jody came in from the morning stroll around Young’s Hill, she soaked up some sun rays in the green house.

Honey very much aware of me during my perimeter check walk this morning.

Gordo, Gordito, unbothered by everything and everyone. What a life!!!

Sir Cy enjoying the morning rays in the green house.

And then we have this great sequence. Rayne in the back while Dora and Lucky engage in some play time.

Betsy’s Bovine Birthday Bash!

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It’s a week of celebrations! Yesterday we celebrated Gordo’s 33rd birthday. Today we are celebrating Betsy’s 14th birthday!

If you remember from last year, we had tried to do something special for the cattle on their birthdays, which usually didn’t end the way we wanted them to.

Today, Kelsi and I decided we wanted to try again. We took the service Gator up to the barn to grab some COB (corn, oats, and barely) and alfalfa pellets to bring to sweet Betsy to celebrate her day.

As we drove onto the pasture to meet them, Betsy was the first to be alert to something new in the back of the Gator. When she realized what it was, she wanted all of it. We were able to make sure Nutmeg, Honey, and Meredith were also able to get some.

We all truly love the cattle here! Every one is uniquely special to us. We often look back at their lives and get into “Awww” mode when we find some of the old photos of their time at Farm Sanctuary. And since this particular page is titled “Betsy: Dairy Survivor, Reality TV Star, Devoted Mother, and Beloved Friend” I thought today would be a good day to share it.

Happy Birthday, Betsy! Here’s to 14 years, and many more to come!

Nutmeg and Betsy eating together.
Betsy eating some hay.
She’s a forest cow now!
Eating with her family from the back of the Gator.
Happy Birthday, Betsy!

And as one final message, Diana wants you all to know that she hears you about wanting a better blog commenting system, so she’s currently looking into options. If there are other websites that you comment on that have the features you like, feel free to contact Diana ([email protected]) as she investigates possibilities. And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog the new way if you haven’t already. Thanks!

50 Shades of Hay

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A friend of me recently told me that they find observing cattle to be emotionally grounding. For sure, a serenely grazing cow radiates peace.

It’s difficult to tell when cattle are truly happy since they express their emotions in a way that seems alien to most humans. Still, there is a notable contrast between a calm bovine and an excited or anxious one. We who work with these creatures learn to differentiate between these various behavioral states and use this wisdom to safely provide optimal care.

In a more spiritual sense, I also love to watch the Moo Crew peacefully munch on a bale of grass hay, browse through the willows along the creek, or mow down an overgrown pasture like a band of professional landscapers. They bring me joy.

Today, we’re sharing the Jerseys and their zen-like bliss with you all. Please feel free to hop in your Gator, grab a bale of your own, and join in.

Health Care for the Bovines

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With the exception of the occasional snow flurries, we’re welcoming the arrival of spring here at the sanctuary.

For the small herd of rescued Jersey cattle that resides here, the onset of spring corresponds with green pastures for grazing and warm sunshine for sunbathing. They’re already nibbling at the carpet of new growth that has emerged from the muddy winter paddock and we’ve begun to catch them delving into the creek to eat the vegetation. Soon, we’ll open the path to the summer pastures so they can roam the hillsides on either side of the chimpanzee enclosures, grazing and napping the long days away until next winter.

The cattle grazing in the winter paddock… note that Meredith, as usual, is just a little out of step with the others!

The cattle may require less attention than the chimps, but they’re not entirely independent. In fact, they require a bit of maintenance, especially in the spring and fall. Each year, there are a few things that need to happen before the cattle can go on summer vacation.

First, we need to make sure the pasture grass is ready for cattle. Domestic cattle aren’t native here and turning the herd out to pasture too soon can damage the vegetation and terrain (and can also be harm their sensitive guts).

We also need to check the pasture fences and make sure nothing was damaged during the winter storms and freezes.

Then, we have to wean them off of the supplemental hay that we provision through the colder months.

Finally, we prefer to have their annual veterinary exams completed while they’re still hanging out in the winter paddock.

We’re gradually working our way down that checklist. Even though the pastures aren’t quite ready yet and we’re still giving the bovines a bale of hay each morning, we were able to do their annual exams last week.

To facilitate these procedures, we closed the cattle in the Bud Box and then did a quick exam on each individual before letting them back out into the larger paddock. Dr. Erin led the exams as J.B. and I took notes and provided a little extra muscle (although even the two of us are relatively useless when the rowdy patient weighs over a thousand pounds).

The routine exams consisted of full body check-ups, hoof inspections, annual vaccinations, and follow-up diagnostics related to any minor health issues that caregivers had previously documented (e.g. Meredith’s brief “ain’t doin’ right” in January). As usual, Dr. Erin worked quickly; even the tamest of domestic cattle don’t particularly enjoy being confined and restrained for very long, which can cause them to grow fractious in a hurry.

Fortunately, we successfully completed the essential tasks and the cattle resumed their normal routine almost immediately. In addition to our meticulous documentation of the exam procedures and findings, we also managed to take some quick snapshots to share with you all.

Nutmeg assists Dr. Erin
Honey waits patiently in the chute
Dr. Erin rewards Honey with some scratches
Dr. Erin cleans Nutmeg’s ears as we hold him steady with a halter

We’re happy to report that everyone looked great and seems to be in prime physical condition. (Nutmeg, especially, is the epitome of health and oozes masculine confidence. If you’re not yet convinced, check out some of our past blogs about him. You’ll be in awe of this majestic lad.)

Betsy
Honey

Now, the cattle only need their annual hoof trims and a little more growth in the pastures before they can resume their summer landscaping duties!

Meredith

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Those of you who follow CSNW on Instagram may have noticed that we regularly feature images of the four rescued Jersey cattle who graze the pastures around the sanctuary. Since these herbivorous creatures are so different from their chimpanzee neighbors, focusing on the cattle can be a welcome change of pace for the sanctuary staff and social media followers alike.

In the recent “Bovine Break” post from a couple days ago, we shared a photograph of the four Jersey cattle resting together in their winter paddock. They have formed a tightly-knit herd and are rarely seen apart, which is justified given their history and family bonds. Still, they each have their own colorful personality and quirky tendencies, and the image highlighted one of these characteristic traits.

While Betsy, Honey and Nutmeg were all aligned so they could view the hills and forests to the north of the sanctuary, Meredith was turned completely around and facing the other direction, chewing her cud without any indication that she wanted to conform with the others. We always joke that she has idiosyncratic tendencies, but it was nice to capture it visually for all to see. Standing while the others lay down, laying down while the others stand, facing the opposite direction, lagging behind the group… such is Meredith’s nature.

I used her peculiarity to my advantage when I went out to photograph the cattle this afternoon. The other three acted inconvenienced and trotted away, but Merry quietly waddled alongside me at her own pace. She’s not always in an affectionate mood, but she occasionally paused to suspiciously sniff my muck boots and gently lick my hands. We stopped at the paddock gate where she stood and watched the others (who had nonchalantly strolled through together). Eventually, I left them to their own endeavors. Apart from the satisfaction of capturing some nice portraits, I was also content to share a peaceful moment with this odd individual.