Mirror KB Ranch

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February 10, 2011

It's been a long winter over most of the country with major snow storms an' arctic temperature stretchin' well into the south.  While we haven't experienced an abnormal amount of snowfall (snow pack for the Kootenai drainage to date is about 107 percent of the 30 year norm)...but we've certainly encountered quite a few bitter subzero temperatures throughout our long Montana season. We are ready for spring!  Today isn't all that bad - with a low of 26 degrees, but the blustery wind barrelin' up through the valley subtracts what little sunshine manages to poke through an' adds a bit of a bite to the day.

As in past winters we've had to deal with a nuisance herd of about 22 elk who continually hang out in the pastures.  They are a presumptuous lot who audaciously bold their way in to feed on the hay that we put out for the horses an' cows.  While the horses can hold their ground to an onslaught of 20 some elk, the cattle are much too submissive so tend to let the elk move in an' take over the feedin' ground.  We can haze 'em off, but as soon as we walk away the elk move right back in to reclaim the hay. Though we enjoy viewin' the elk, an' they have provided us with many wonderful photographic opportunities it frustrates us that we have such a difficult time providin' adequate feed to our livestock...not to mention the non-returnable cost of all the hay that is consumed by the elk.