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rocco13
Got Milk?
Reged: 07/29/06
Posts: 2648
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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Quote:
In the UK, more people are killed by cows than any other animals...
I'm sorry for finding this statement amusing... but it just sounds like it's from a movie trailer for a new horror flick!
It also reminds me of those old Far Side cartoons...the 'gangs' of cows that would steal tractors and wreak havoc vandalizing the poor old farmer's property.
http://www.thefarside.com/
PS...How did we get so far off topic? 
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Rocco
Zhumell Z12
Super C8 (1984 vintage)
Celestron 102 f/5
and a cheap pair of binoculars
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tatarjj
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/20/04
Posts: 1134
Loc: Austin, TX
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Quote:
Cattle are very inquisitive, if you put a scope in a field full of cattle you will most likely find it useless until you've cleaned the slobber off it.
Simple solution, chase them off. Run at them waving your arms and yelling. If they come back again, repeat this.
Quote:
Cows with calves WILL attack if you try to get between mother and calf. Not just new calves. In the UK, more people are killed by cows than any other animals - bull attacks are very rare because people try to avoid them. (If there's just one in a field, it's a bull.)
Yes, mothers will charge. You probably mistook my meaning of "new mothers"- I was meaning cows with halves less than like 3 months old, though any cow can be protective of its calf at any time. However, you need to watch for new mothers especially, as they have very strong hormones for up to a couple months after calving. After that, the danger decreases, but it depends on the animal. In fact, their protectiveness becomes noticably less after just the first few weeks. Note that every time I've been charged by a cow with a calf, she has either stopped short or only lightly butted me. However, our cows are very domesitcated, so your milage may very.
Quote:
Cattle, as a herd, may also attack dogs ... even if you have one on a lead (which of course it should be if you're following a footpath across a field containing cattle). If you find this happening to you, release the dog - they'll chase it, and it can run much faster than you and will look after itself.
I completely agree with you here- cows HATE dogs, keep em away. One way that people do get injured by cattle is when they bring a dog with them into a field of cattle, and the dog tries to take shelter behind the person from charging cows. Cows won't charge something you're holding in your hands, so if it's a small dog, just pick it up and carry it.
We had one blue heeler though that the cows sorta liked. When they'd charge her, she'd get behind some kind of cover and then stand her ground. When the cow started shaking its head in her face, she's stick her nose in the cow's ear and start licking it out. The cow's mood would go from anger to "hey, that's kinda nice!". It was hilarious (and disgusting) to watch. Our cows had really good hearing!
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John T.
Austin, TX
25" f/4.2 Dob
18" Obsession #701
4" Stellar Vue Achromat
8X56 Binos
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tatarjj
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/20/04
Posts: 1134
Loc: Austin, TX
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Quote:
OMG! I can't believe people took my sarcastic remark on cows as serious!!! 
I didn't think anyone could mistake a cow for a lion! 
Thanks guys. I will be laughing everytime I see a cow from now on!!!
I'm glad you found it amusing! Lots of the general public have very negative views of cows, including views similar to what you expressed. I find this amusing myself, but perhaps now you see why I thought you were serious. People hold these views due to ignorance and perhaps to help find a justification for eating them. Personally, I feel that being tastey is good enough reason, but some people need to think that the animals they are eating are unfeeling, violent and/or disgusting and stinky to ease their guilt.
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John T.
Austin, TX
25" f/4.2 Dob
18" Obsession #701
4" Stellar Vue Achromat
8X56 Binos
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Ray4852
sage
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 400
Loc: Arcade, NY
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Dogs can be great help bringing cattle back to the barn. cows are very intelligent animals.
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Home Built 18 dobsonian
Panoptic 27mm
Tele vue 16mm 9mm naglers
Tele vue big barlow
Telrad and DSC
deepsky and skytools software
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Jack Tripper
sage
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 345
Loc: Canada
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Getting back on topic...I love observing alone!  95% of my observing is done alone. Any risks that have been discussed in this thread are acceptable to me. Life is a risk. 
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Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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New Sky
member
Reged: 11/10/08
Posts: 27
Loc: New Zealand
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I think cows are adorable and possibly the least frigthening of any animal imaginable! This thread turned very funny.
There is something absolutely indescribable about being able to observe alone with zero concerns. You can totally immerse yourself in the sky and forget about everything else. And until we moved I had no idea just how much better a truly dark sky makes that experience.
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7331Peg
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 725
Loc: North coast of Oregon
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Well, the solution to this whole 'cow'ardly debate about cows is really 'utterly' simple if you can just get 'past'your fear of them.
Then this whole issue becomes a 'moo't point.
 
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Jack Tripper
sage
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 345
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
Well, the solution to this whole 'cow'ardly debate about cows is really 'utterly' simple if you can just get 'past'your fear of them.
Then this whole issue becomes a 'moo't point.
Ouch!
I really noticed something tonight. Observing alone can mean two very different things. Observing alone in a suburban backyard feels much safer than observing alone from a remote, dark site. Not only is the backyard well lit because of skyglow and street lights, but a possible mechanical failure with a vehicle becomes a non-issue. The difference really is night and day. (For deep-sky objects too unfortunately).
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Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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brianb11213
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 2099
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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Quote:
Observing alone in a suburban backyard feels much safer than observing alone from a remote, dark site. Not only is the backyard well lit because of skyglow and street lights, but a possible mechanical failure with a vehicle becomes a non-issue.
If it's dark enough for you not to be able to see them, they can't see you.
How often does your vehicle fail? Sounds like you could do with an upgrade to a reliable one! Have you considered (1) leaving a note of where you're going with expected return time, (2) carrying a cell or satellite phone?
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Jack Tripper
sage
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 345
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
How often does your vehicle fail? Sounds like you could do with an upgrade to a reliable one! Have you considered (1) leaving a note of where you're going with expected return time, (2) carrying a cell or satellite phone?
My vehicle has yet to fail, (pretty new), but that doesn't mean it can't happen. Yes brianb11213, I always carry a cell phone. It still would be a hassle though if my vehicle failed. (ie - Calling, waiting for, and paying for a tow truck). Could be a very COLD wait too if the car won't start.
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Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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