(no subject)

[gategrrl]

The kids and I got back from a short trip to see our favorite steer (cow?) named Norman, who lives at the William S. Hart Park up in Santa Clarita. He's a huge moo, but gentle. The kids and I fell in love with him last year when he came up to the fence and let them scratch his ears for few minutes.








A herd of Bison live in the park, also. They're descended from a herd given to the WSH Park by Disney.

These are pictures taken in 2009. If you're in the area, I highly recommend it. There's even Hart's mansion that you can tour for free--after the roof is repaired. It will reopen in September sometime. Hart loved his animals so much, he buried his dogs with gravestones, and had a special place for his horse. It's all very touching.

And best of all? In the late summer, at the end of August, there's a festival there. I think it's a Pow-wow, but I have to check.

Comments

[khek.livejournal.com]

Wow. That is one big steer! (he's neutered, right?) Cows can be very friendly.

I love buffaloes. There used to be a farmer near my parents who cross-bred cows and buffalo to raise "beefalo". At the time, we didn't realize they were for meat. They were the coolest looking creatures...a little less friendly than most cows though.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

On this visit, we met a couple of the women who work there, tending the animals (there are also pigs, chickens, wild turkeys, golden pheasants and ducks and geese). One of them told us that Norman was originally bought a long time ago when he was a calf by a couple to be raised for meat. However, everyone in the neighborhood fell in love with him, and he turned into the neighborhood mascot. The couple split up, and neither one of them could afford to keep him, so they donated him to the Hart Park, where Norman has lived ever since. He's 2300 pounds. He did eventually come over to be scritched a little bit and to take a strand or two of hay from the kids. He's getting old. I have no idea how long a steer will live.