Rescue
Man Helps Cow Separated From Baby By Electric Fence
She knew he would be able to help her.
Cedric Jackson
06.16.18

Can cows communicate with people?

One sure did manage to do so when she needed to. When a man named Dave stopped alongside a country road to take some photos of the scenery, he was a little shocked when a cow came up to him and started acting strangely. He could tell she was trying to tell him something, but he wasn’t sure what she wanted.

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At first, Dave thought that the cow was just nervous or curious about him.

He tried to keep his distance and went along taking photos. Still, the cow continued to try to get his attention. He was now sure that she was trying to tell him something. He decided to follow her.

She led him down the fence line little ways and brought him to her baby calf. The calf was newborn, and it was clear that the mother had given birth that night or early in the morning. Unfortunately, she had done so in a strange place. The baby had slid down a small embankment and was on the other side of an electric fence.

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The mother was unable to reach her baby, and the baby was not yet able to stand.

The mother knew that the fence was electric, so she was scared to get too close or to coax the baby to try to get to her. She needed a human to come along to help, and Dave just happened to show up.

The cow didn’t know Dave, but something in her sensed that he was the human she was waiting for. She trusted him to save her baby, and Dave wasn’t going to let her down. He wasn’t exactly sure what to do, though. He didn’t know how to get the baby to the mother without touching the fence.

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He looked around and saw a stick nearby.

He used the stick to pry up the bottom string of the fence enough to push the baby underneath it. The mom knew he was trying to help, but she was also nervous that he would hurt or even take her baby. Every time he touched the calf, she acted nervously. He was afraid she might even attack him.

Dave tried to be as gentle as possible and was eventually able to get the baby back to his mother. He and the calf did get a few electric shocks in the process, but neither of them was seriously hurt. The mother was thrilled to have her baby back where she could reach him. She immediately started to nudge the baby and allow him to nurse.

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The baby was weak from being born and not being able to nurse right after birth.

Still, she managed to get the baby to its feet. Eventually, the mother led the calf away from Dave and the fence. Dave told the farmers about what had happened, and they checked on the calf and found that he was healthy. They tagged him and left him with his mother.

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Dave happened to be in the right place at the right time and can’t help but feel that he was meant to be there.

Had he not stopped in that exact spot to take photos, he would have never found the calf. If the calf wasn’t reunited with the mother, he wouldn’t have made it through the day or night. He saved the calf’s life and helped the frantic mother reunite with her baby.

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Cows are very smart animals, and they are capable of forming close bonds with humans.

These cows live on a farm and likely only have contact with humans when they are fed and tagged. Still, they know that they depend on humans for survival. This cow wasn’t completely trusting of Dave, but she knew he was her only chance at saving her baby. Maybe she will be more trusting of humans now.

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