Visit to Reicherts - aka Sheep Rescue Story

August 31st, 2016

Kathie and I visited the ranch north of New Underwood on Wednesday - it was sunny and 87 degrees.  After a 29 minute traffic delay due to road construction, and then lunch, Duane and I went for a ride in the ATV to check out the livestock, look at a hollow cottonwood tree and search for other potential walking sticks.

The livestock in the pasture south of the house were a large group of the new lambs and yearlings. We also saw a group of ten antelope running thru the field. 

(NOTE:  Click on any picture to see a slide show of all photos in this blog,)

  Then we drove to the north east pasture across Hay Draw.  There we found cattle and sheep on our way to the big hollow cottonwood log.

After checking out the hollow log, we spotted a raccoon running across the pasture, so we decided to give chase to see where he was going.  He turned and headed back down a steep drop to the water.  So we drove down past the water to check out the group of cattle down by the water where we spotted a group of black cows plus two brown cows.  After getting a few pictures, we headed back west toward the house.

As we came along the top of a berm, we spotted a ewe in trouble, stuck up to her chin in soft clay.  She couldn't move enough to get free of the soft mud.  She had been there a while and was needing water and food.  She was about 150 pounds, and we couldn't get close enough to pull her out without risking also sinking in the mud.

So Duane got out his rope and tried to lasso the ewe's head.  On the second try, he slipped the rope around its head. 

Then we tied the rope to the ATV.  Duane pulled slowly and gently on the sheep.  Without too much effort, she popped out of the mud.    

Then we pulled her up the hill to make sure she wouldn't run back into the mud.  I loosened the rope from her head, and pulled it off.  She just laid there a few seconds.  But then she lifted her head, jumped up and stumbled a few steps, then stood up and walked away.  She was heading towards water, so off she went, muddy but free again!   During the ordeal, and afterwards, she followed the old saying:  KEEP MOVING.

Here's the mud.

After rescuing the ewe, we headed north to see if we could spot some burrowing owls.  They live in the ground in prairie dog burrows.  We drove very slowly and were able to get close enough to get a few pictures of the burrowing owl.

the end