Seirer_170428_6057.jpgIntruder A calf, fighting freedom and full of angst, bolts past wild mustangs as it fruitlessly seeks to solve a maze of pasture fences east of Cassoday. The tale began when the calf escaped its home pasture by following a small gully wash under the barbed wire, emerging into the ditch of Butler County Road 150. Quickly realizing that freedom is overrated, among calves, at least, Calf No. 432 studied and nudged the fence that now enforced its exile. It turned to the road and studied that, too. But apparently concluding it was no highway home, the calf returned to the fence and began walking the line, heading east, away from home and adjacent to the pasture claimed by a herd of horses. Breaking into a run, the calf added to its distance from home before stopping and examining the fence again and then turning west, at a walk, until it spotting a small opening through which it scooted —into the neighboring pasture. The calf bolted, startling and stirring the mustangs, as it headed for Mom, monitoring the crisis from the other side of the fence that separates the pastures. Now it was that fence that thwarted a reunion and the calf, anxiety at full throttle, ran alongside it for the deep south. Mom seemed torn. Should she maintain her border patrol or return to the herd? She turned toward the herd. And then turned back. The calf stopped. Mom ambled south. The dilemma continued, but not for long. A rancher quickly arrived to orchestrate the reunion.

A calf, fighting freedom and full of angst, bolts past wild mustangs as it fruitlessly seeks to solve a maze of pasture fences east of Cassoday in the Kansas Flint Hills. The tale began when the calf escaped its home pasture by following a small gully wash under the barbed wire, emerging into the ditch of Butler County Road 150. Quickly realizing that freedom is overrated, among calves, at least, Calf No. 432 studied and nudged the fence that now enforced its exile. It turned to the road and studied that, too. But apparently concluding it was no highway home, the calf returned to the fence and began walking the line, heading east, away from home and adjacent to the pasture claimed by a herd of horses. Breaking into a run, the calf added to its distance from home before stopping and examining again both the fence and the road and then turning west, at a walk, until it spotting a small opening through which it scooted —into the neighboring pasture. The calf bolted, startling and stirring the mustangs, as it headed for Mom, monitoring the crisis from the other side of the fence that separates the pastures. Now it was that fence that thwarted a reunion and the calf, anxiety at full throttle, ran alongside it for the deep south. Mom seemed torn. Should she maintain her border patrol or return to the herd? She turned toward the herd. And then turned back. The calf stopped. Mom ambled south. The dilemma continued, but not for long. A rancher quickly arrived to orchestrate the reunion.