The Holler is really a Holler and not only for the birds.
It is for low-down, on the ground, critter life as well. Meet the new, free range calf.
And, meet the guys who are overly fond of new free range calves.
We were quite done with watching the coyotes prey on the defenseless calves, and the cowboy intermittently shoot the coyotes.
This approach solved nothing.
The cowboy who grazes the free range cattle on the 1200 acre state-owned nature preserve that abuts The Holler, finally came up with a creative solution.
You know I value creativity. It is why I love bloggers so much!
Anyhoo, meet the new juvenile Ankole-Watusi bull. Imagine how big he is gonna be when he is all “growed” up!
These are African free range cattle that grow horns up to eight feet from tip to tip. At night, in Africa, when predators are active, the Ankole adults place the calves in the center, while the adults, and their eight foot horns defend the perimeter through intimidation. They are highly protective of calves and able to repel African predators. These cattle can subsist in drought conditions with low water and feed.
They are currently interbred in Europe and North America and, and news to me, The Holler. I had no idea of the Ankole solution until my telephoto saw them, and I sent it straight from my camera, to your eyes!
I am grateful to my camera because Ankole can be quite aggressive towards humans. If my camera hadn’t alerted me to their presence, I would still be hiking in the preserve, not expecting an ambush by potentially aggressive African bulls!
The coyotes are now in a state of détente. When the Ankoles lower their horns in the coyotes direction, off the coyotes trot. Coyotes regulate their estrus and birth cycles in accordance with environmental conditions. They are intelligent and adaptable. As they are able to kill less calves, they will limit their birth rates, and subsist on rodents.
Of course the poor squirrels have no say in this matter, but at least they can run fast into their extensive burrows.
Cheers to you from the still wild, and almost natural, Holler~
For more than you probably ever want to know about the Ankole-Watusi check out: http://edventures.phoenixzoo.org/pdf/animalFactSheets/watusiCattle.pdf
What an innovative solution to a complicated problem! And thanks for the great photos, too!
Ahhh, you are so welcome! Thank you more for the thoughtful comment~
Gorgeous photographs as always. Love the story along the way. Always learn something here. Thank you, Cindy. ❤
The Holler was a steep learning curve for me. I had to learn to live with rattlesnakes, black widows, scorpions, coyotes and now Ankole-Watusi. I love it all!!! Well, actually, I don’t love the black widows and scorpions at all……
You are fearless! I admire your sense of adventure. ❤ ❤
Lovely pictures and story. I am happy with what you tell us.
Awwww, your comment makes me happy! ❤
Oh my gosh! I love these photos. Thank you so much!
I love your kind comment, so thank you more! ❤
I have always wondered exactly what “free range” meant, now I know, great share, thank you.
When you coming over Antionette, to meet the coyotes, the roadrunners, the Ankole-Watusi and of course your favorite, the hummers????? They are waiting to meet you! ❤ ❤
You kinda scared me with the Coyots!
They will never bother us. I have bear spray!
I’m glad you had your telephoto with you. What an interesting Holler drama‼️
It’s a Holler Happening! There are often strange Holler Happenings….. 😉
what wonderful photos Cindy! That one coyote had a big grin on his face, honery like! tee hee! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Yes, whether he was grinning or salivating at the sight of a tasty human in unclear! 😉
A great story and good for the coyotes. Maybe they could use this solution for people with ranches around wolves also. Hugs, Barbara
It seems like a potentially good idea doesn’t it!
Cindy, your beautiful photos are such a delight to look at, and your commentary always so informative. The Ankole-Watusi bull must have been a sight to see with those horns.
I saw him in telephoto and my first thought was, what an odd looking bull! 😉 😉
That is a creative solution! Love your pictures!
I think it is pretty nifty too, and and hopeful that it may work. So far no sobbing mama cows~
Embracing your pictures always reminds me how beautiful life is! You never fail to make me feel good each day! Love, hugs and blessings Cindy!
The same back to you Wendell x2! ❤
Please follow back
I did. ❤
Quite the range of critters! Great captures, Cindy.
The Holler is critter rich and people scarce. It’s a nice change after city life.
Beautiful photos, Cindy, as always. I like the creative solution of the Ankole bull. Co-existing with wildlife and using alternative strategies is something that I hope becomes more accepted as our world shrinks.
Yes, employing nature to keep nature in balance feels smart to me too. We have certainly spent too much of human history messing up the natural balance.
Wa-watusi! Great solution to a rancher’s nightmare. Cheers, Cindy.
I love that I live next to Ankole-Watusi. Maybe I can get a good pic of them for this years Christmas card. Happy Holidays to you from The Holler & the Ankole-Watusi! 😉 😉
I love how there are solutions without killing if we only take a moment to research and ask. Here the llamas protect the sheep and goats quite effectively. Beautiful photos. Those bulls are amazing with their giant horns 🙂
Yes, llamas and donkeys are both good solutions. It is wonderful to see animals with protective instincts, which unfortunately are too often lacking in certain human beings! I read a study where labratory rats saved other rats from confinement. They had empathy and were protective. What a concept!! ❤
I don’t think it’s comfortable to humans to think that animals care…or love, heavens forbid. Perhaps the day is coming when we learn that animals are just like us except they don’t speak our language.
I really like the story and details you tell us along with these amazing pictures! Wow I felt scared for you when I saw that coyote! What a photo of a beautiful creature! They sure had a great solution there, 8 feet long? That is a huge force to worry about! Very interesting as always Cindy!
So glad you enjoyed, but my adventurous life doesn’t hold a candle to yours my friend! ❤
You are a world traveler and so interesting!! xxx
Cindy, wonderful pics.
Very pleased you enjoyed and cheers to you!
That is a fascinating look at your Holler and the surrounding environment. Do you have any fences to keep those very aggressive looking Ankole-Watusi bulls out of your part of the Holler? That is a very pro-active way of protecting those cute calves. Mother nature is so clever, limiting the birth rates to the conditions. Kangaroos do that too, the foetus can stay dormant for a long time waiting for the suitable conditions to start the birth cycle.
That is amazing, I was just reading about some female animals that are reproducing without males and they are not frogs! Mother Nature is ingenious and yes we do have fences but I doubt they are sufficient for Ankole Wastuses! Life is always interesting~
I agree there is always something new to discover, especially with the help of Google…
That last picture portrayed a slice of heaven, Cuz….., and that bull, well, that’s a lotta bull ! Those coyotes just look way too well fed. The only ones I’ve seen have seen have looked scrawny and thin. They are intelligent animals though, maybe smarter than some humans I know ! Hugs !
You would like The Holler cuz, but many people woudn’t, too rurual, too isolated, not enough people to chat with. Me, I like chatting with the birds just fine, and who knows, maybe I’ll find a way to chat up the Ankole too!
I’m sure I’d like it too, Cindy. I like quiet places that haven’t been overrun and ruined by the crowds. I’ve always loved the mountains, and the seashore away from the buildings and beaches crowded with people. Unspoiled nature has a way of bringing peace to the soul. Hugs !
Flowers, animals and natures. Your life look amazingly free. Hahaha.
They are what I need to be happy and I do feel amazingly free! Cheers to you and hope you do too my friend~
I meant it. Anyway, im too curious about what you doing.
Well good, I am curious about you too my friend which is what makes the world, and blogging so interesting.
Just saw some hawks and now these photos! I love nature when it can’t eat me… lol 😉
I love nature too and am impressed by how often wild creatures could hurt us but chose not to. Humans could learn a thing or two from wild critters~
Thanks for new coyotes posting. Great pics 🙂
Just a thought!
Do cowboys gaze the cattle, or the ankolewatusiboys are who gaze.
Like a painting of Anton Doll
That is quite a multi-syllabic word you just made up and I do see some similarities with Doll’s landscapes. Thank you for such a nice complement & cheers to you~
There are also similarities to Ludwig Hartmann’s painting. Hartmann has depicted the life of “German Cowboys”
Es una información muy interesante. Y es que la naturaleza nos da soluciones para los problemas, sólo hace falta poner la imaginación a trabajar. Me encantan las fotos. Un abrazo, amiga. ❤
Estoy de acuerdo con tu mi amiga. Necesitamos soluciones que protegen nuestro mundo natural. Saludos y le agradecen !
Liebe Cindy das sind ja wieder traumhafte Fotos einfach nur schön danke dir für diese Fotos hab einen schönen Mittwoch mit vielen lieben Grüßen Klaus in Freundschaft
Sie sind eine sehr freundliche Klaus. Vielen Dank fur Ihre freundliche Gedanken.
Ich hoffe, Sie haben eine wunderbare Woche.
echt wunderschön, wünsche einen guten Mittwoch
Danke Ihnen fur Ihre freundlichen Kommentar und gut sein, mein Freund.
alles Gute für heute wünsche ich dir
How fascinating and formidable are those Ankole! Had not heard of them before. And such a creative solution. Your Holler is an amazing place and, as always, your photography is wonderful!
Your are very kind and your thoughtful comments are motivating and encouraging. Thank you & cheers to you~
Liebe Cindy hab noch mal deine wunderschönen Fotos betrachtet sie sind einfach unbeschreiblich schön ,auf dem Foto hatten die Wölfe bei ihrer Jagd Erfolg gehabt ? Hab eine gute Nacht mit ganz vielen lieben Grüßen Klaus in Freundschaft
Liebe Cindy hab noch mal deine wunderschönen Fotos betrachtet sie sind einfach unbeschreiblich schön ,auf dem Foto hatten die Kojoten bei ihrer Jagd Erfolg gehabt ? Hab eine gute Nacht mit ganz vielen lieben Grüßen Klaus in Freundschaft
Danke schoen mein liber Freund Klaus. Sie sind ein wunderbarer Freund Klaus. Ich wunsche Ihnen Gesundheit und Gluck immer.
I plan to nominate you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. … Will post, tomorrow.
Oh, so kind and so appreciated. Thank you & all the best to you my friend~
You are most welcome – I always love finding your photos in my reading file.
Cindy– I can’t image how you’re able to produce these amazing close pictures — so vivid and fun of life. Love your photography!!
I am glad the fun comes through because taking photos for me is like playing was when I was a child. Thanks so much for the very thoughtful comments & cheers to you my friend~
Thats an inventive way to protect young ones !! 🙂
Rather dramatic too. I wonder if he plans to cross breed. I would imagine so. This will make The Holler ever more interesting! 😉
wünsche einen super guten Tag
Nur das Beste, um Ihnen mein lieber Freund!
wünsche schönen Freitag
Gorgeous photos! Love your blog, keep up the great work!
Thanks so much & cheers too!
Smile
Thanks for following. 😊
It is a pleasure to meet you.
And you cindy have a great day 😊
❤
Inspiring and wonderful. I read and read again. And I know about cows…Creative solutions and hopefully it will work. Great shots as usual.
Cows are so socially bonded and wonderful. I had no idea until I moved next door to them. We don’t spend enough time learning about the creatures we eat.
I often think about what we really learned in school about the animals closest to us. In the forest as well the domestic ones. So, I agree with you.
❤
Cool, hey, I’ll sit with the squirrels! This is an interesting approach. I’d like to see what happens. Neat post, Cindy.
The Ankole is at our fence right now. I am going to introduce myself~
A really interesting story – an environment which is strange to me but with blogs you learn all the time. Liked the photos as well!
It is so true, blogs are a vista expander. Love ’em for this & cheers to you~
wünsche einen schönen Freitag
Ich hoffe, dass Sie ein wunderbares Wochenende mein Freund haben!
wünsche auch ein schönes Wochenende
Sounds like an interesting answer to a predatory problem. In Spain they suggest the big mastin dogs against the wolves. The dogs are usually very friendly with humans and I think it is very much their size which puts wolves off preying on lambs. Great info and will follow the link too.
Yes, many wonderful dog breeds are herd protective and coyote defensive, Kuavaz, Great Pyrenees, there are many such. I suspect the cowboy doesn’t have time to care for them.
They need quite a bit of food!
I think it is not safe out there for me when I see the coyote, he might see me as a snack 😀
Beautiful pictures again, Cindy. We just love the little calf. Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend 🙂 ❤
Yes, coyotes, especially in large packs, are nothing to be trifled with and definitely not kitty-kat or calf friendly so if you visit The Holler, you must stay indoors!
Only if you pamper me 😉
❤ ❤
That caff was cute. Reminded me of the White goat my grandparents had, it was like a pet for my mother and uncle when they where kids. One day the goat was gone….while my mother ate a great meal wich didn´t come very often she asked my grandma about the goat to which she responded ” Do you like the food?” My mother said all happy since it was good and abundant “yes!!” To this day she has trouble thinking she was eating her beloved goat…..what a story that came out of nowhere, but a true one.
Anyways, nice pics as always.
That seems like quite a insensitive thing for a mother to do to her child. I can see why just the telling of the story stuck with you and I also can well imagine how upsetting this memory is for your mom.
I know, Cindy! This was after the Spanish Civil war when they got by with bread and some butter at the most, see where I´m going. It was survival. Now we talk about it jokingly though, now a days we don´t do that but that was another time, real harsh times. So if old grandma didn´t kill that thing, as lovely as it was, her children would be starving. I don´t think that in those situations people are going to be very sensitive about eating animals really. Now we do have that luxury but not then.
I can only imagine how hard it was. Survival of your children in paramont. Your explanation makes me feel bad for rushing to judgement.
Beautiful images Cindy.
Honored and thank you very much!
You have such a huge following ! I can’t imagine what your inbox looks like and how you keep up with it all and still take a moment to visit my blog. You must have 72 hour days.
Gosh, blogging is a joy and doesn’t take up too much time. Once, I had a real job as a mental health director and therapist. Now that was hard work! This is just pleasure~
Great to catch up with your posts again. Fantastic images as always, Cindy
Wonderful to hear from you and hope all is well with you my friend!
They’re *all* gorgeous, including of course those handsome coyotes! I *finally* saw a coyote around here recently, but it looked far less robust and glossy—a much weedier character! Still, I was happy to see one, since I’m sure that the rampant-if-not-rapacious suburban growth in the DFW area is antithetical to coyote happiness, never mind the ranchers’ anti-critter mindset in TX generally.
As for the cattle, Watusis really caught my attention first in a surprisingly suburban setting as well, since there was a big, magnificent Watusi bull who lived and lounged in his own showcase pasture not far from where we lived some years ago, surrounded by houses and such. He seemed not to mind that his kingdom was so circumscribed, as long as he was still king. And I was very happy to stop by the fence and just admire him once in a while!
Happy 2016, dear Cindy!
xoxo,
Kath
Oh my, what a small world it truly is! How marvelous you had an Ankole for a neighbior! I can’t wait until these guys grow up. I want to get some photos of thoses 8 ft horns! I imagine your coyote has to be especially wiley to survive in Texas because I know they are not much liked there, or anywhere for that matter. I had to live with them to learn to respect them. Still I would not try and pet one! 😉 😉
that is the cutest cow I’ve ever seen!!! and i love cows
Free range cattle are my next door neighbors and I have learned so much about them. They are socially bonded, communal, they actively grieve when a cow dies. They are far more intellgent, curious and emotional that I was taught growing up. They make very good neighbors.
I’ve always looked at them as dogs with hooves..and horns on occasion😉their eyes are warm and friendly–soulful
Esactly, yes, very soulful and sweet natured~
I loved this one. Those coyotes looked a little fat so perhaps they have had too many of the beautiful little calves. The horned bull was amazing!
Yes they are well fed out here! I actually had a coyote come up to me yesterday like a dog . I was grateful to be in my car and I spoke to him. They are mysterious creatures.
They run down the middle of the road hear, yipping at night. Plenty to eat.
It had gotten to the point that I really look forward to their nightly symphony.
I’m not sure I possess a word in my vocabulary that would do your photography justice 🙂
You are a thougthful and kind person Nick and well as an admirable one. Thank you!
We have many Ankole at the African Lion Safari on the outskirts of Hamilton. I love their horns!
What a small world and how synchronistic!