sleeping beast-y

Check this out! I had a wildlife immobilization class. It was really awesome because we had a chance for hands on experience. It was a chance to get over your needle phobia, actually stick an animal, and to experiment with different drug combinations and observe the animals responses. It was really cool. We rented four 200 lb pack goats (they don't look that big!) from a 4-H teenager. Apparently he was aware of their purpose. And wanted them back alive.

All the drugs have different anesthesia and analgesia properties, mode of action, time of effectiveness, and side effects. Respiratory and cardiac depression are common side effects. Monitoring is critical when working in field conditions and on minimally studied wildlife species. The whole situation poses many difficulties. Just getting the drugs in the animal, and the animal safely down somewhere where you can find it, without injury to animal or humans, being one. Choosing drug dose based on visual estimation of weight and the lack of knowledge on the current condition of the animal are other issues. The practice of hopefully sticking the animal somewhere with a dart isn't quite the same as I.V. administration.

One goat was getting a mixture that would lead to standing sedation, others with different levels of anesthesia, etc. All of them had a combination of drugs, one sometimes counteracting the side effect of another. Our goat was on a narcotic with a sedative.

Here are our patients, patiently waiting.

Oh boy, I'm feeling sleeeeepppy. This must be a good drug!

Here's a pillow little guy; have to keep their heads elevated.

Then some poking and prodding. Taking blood samples.

Some drugs paralyze GI tract muscles which causes bloat in ruminants so we had to tube them.

Antidote given -Whew, all is well.

I can see.....but my legs aren't working.

So how does this relate to herding. Well, I could be handy at druging the sheep at the next trial. Drugging my dog is an option. Valium or opioids for handlers. See, that's something.

My Memorial Day Vacation

It all started Sat morning like any Sat morning. I awoke before 5 am and started scrubbing my house from ceiling to floor, and then went grocery shopping for enough to fill my refrigerator and cupboards. All’s well. But when I get home…. low and behold I have visitors! Who could it be I think; I’m not expecting anyone! OMG its Jeanne and Jodi!!! Awesome! Awesome!

Then it started. My mind remembers well.

Right first off we had a grizzly bear incident…. well with a trap anyway, but it smelled of grizzly and it definitely still had the aura of its presence…. The dogs knew the full story, they could see what we couldn’t … and ask them, it was scary.

So we decided to chill on the back porch with a beer and spotting scope. Bad idea. The spotting scope identified a blue heron ghost residing on the shoreline of the lake. Every time you looked, it was there. Like perhaps I had accidentally killed or injured a baby bird… and it had come to haunt me. It just sat there, always. Right in the direct view of the lake, unflinching, straight and solid as a stump, accusing.

Despite all this, I think we all slept very soundly that night. The next morning things seemed normal again. We awoke with the sunrise, at 4:30 like always. We followed our plans to head to BCWMA for a bike ride and bird watching without thought of yesterday. But apparently our bad karma was not through with us yet. We were simply enjoying a beautiful day, although admittedly huffing and struggling to bike around the WMA. Apparently the birds thought to capitalize on our weakening state. They all obviously had a bone to pick with us. Or at least it felt like that’s what they were after, picking our bones. They swarmed. They screeched and followed us …all of them. At least ten vultures, ten red-tailed hawks, and probably that many bald eagles! Jodi had a really close call with a redtail!! She must be the weakest.

The next day we went out on the lake in the boat. We were enjoying the peace. Until our engine died and suspiciously the flocks of coots defiantly remained around us, refusing to flush off the lake like any normal bird. Ohh no, and there is the bald eagle again. We restarted the engine and skillfully navigated our way back to what we thought was the safety of the boat launch. But little did we know that evil was lurking on that boat launch. Our approach was met with a scurry of activity, out right fleeing and peeling tires. Made me return to wonder what possibly could have caused our boat engine to die? The answer now seemed obvious. The IDFG presence in the parking lot and a visit from the Conservation Officer were no deterrent for these cunning criminals. We released the hounds in hopes of finding clues. But they were not acting like dogs at all! They were mesmerized by swimming for tennis balls and chasing water (like a creepy reverse universe) for hours and neglected their investigative duties. Even the puppy was included. How could this be?? Did someone get to them while we were on the lake?

Later that night we sat around the fire enjoying smores. But something insidious was lurking in the darkness! Echo went berserk!! Flung herself into the darkness without thought of herself, only in protecting us from the evil that lay beyond. Something with all sharp teeth I am sure! Or perhaps Sasquatch? I couldn’t see it, but if I could I would be the one to identify it. Cause I have seen it before… and have a picture to prove it. Later Roy disappeared. I worried frantically where he could be! I had visions of carcasses, many. I only hoped that Roy’s viciousness would be the victor in an encounter with Sasquatch. At 1 am I realized that to be true. Roy stood at the porch steps, viscously but victoriously barking into the darkness at what mutst have been Sasquatch. He had prevailed and made it home safely! He smelled of death, which told of the trials he had been through to protect us all. When we would get whiffs of that smell the following day, we all thanked Roy for his courage and gallantry in protecting us.

On the last day God shined upon us for the fortitude to weather the storm and challenge evil in the darkness. He led us through tribulations and rough roads to place us as victors above the land. The seas and forests spread out below us. The view was AMAZING! He led us cautiously down from the mountain to an oasis of food and spirits to nourish our weary souls. We gathered with all those under the love of God and had nothing to fear in all our nakedness. Glory be to CDA. THE END

P.S. Did I forget to mention that this all started with an anonamous phone message.... "Who Cooks for You All". The spooky owl tried to disguise his voice but being a very smart biologist I had him figured out!