The goose nest has been deserted for several weeks and there was uncertaintany as to it's inhabinants outcome. But today they emerged from the cattails and rushes for my viewing pleasure. We have several nesting pairs of ducks as well, but I haven't observed any ducklings. The ranch has received 2.6 inches of rain this week so the Niobrara is still over it's banks.
We pushed a wire into the coyote den and estimated that the puppies are more than 10' away. I was willing to tie a rope to Blakes legs so I could pull him out if mamma coyote was present. But this was as far as Blake was willing to advance. Hopefully we will find them out on another day.
Blake has been observing this hole in the bank located in the middle of cow calving pasture #2 for several weeks finally he saw coyote puppies, about 12 weeks old playing outside. We were a little late getting a photo, but look carefully and you can see a puppy face staring back.
This is the 11th dystocia out of 135 first calf heifers that have calved so far, Blake has been involved with all of them and was the first surgeon on the last three, soon the veterinarian may not even need to be there. We are about 75% done calving now and will be completed in 3 weeks or less.
Antelope (pronghorn) numbers have been invreasing thr past few years. 10 to 15 is the most we see in a herd at the ranch, but I have seen herds of over 100 head 20 miles to the south. All of our new fences have been built with barbless wire as the bottom strand and placed 16 inches off the ground so the pronghorn can go under (their favorite way of crossing) without risk of injury.
