Sadness at SIS Ranch
It is with great sadness that we report the first deaths at SIS Ranch. Two babies died at birth on Sunday, June 4, 2006 to Licorice. Anise had her babies as well and they have been transferred to the West End Deer Ranch to receive 24-hour care and attention. Two of the three were buck fawns and both are in "guarded condition" at the moment. The doe fawn, Star Anise, is doing great. She has been an inspiration to the buck fawns to get better. We are not exactly sure of the lineage and if they survive we will check further so the "girls" will know for sure, but at the moment we are trying to pull three healthy babies out of this sad day.
"We have often posted about this race to have our babies first, or so-and-so is better than the other," said Mistletoe, who considers herself sort of the reporter for all, "but Licorice's loss is a loss for us all. We've told Licorice that these things happen and sometimes you have to let Mother Nature take her course. We are lucky to live where we have every possible care and attention from our Humans. They have given us plenty of food and water, and snacks. And, in this hot, dry summer in south Texas, we are lucky that we don't have to make a choice about which baby to save. We've heard about some of the wild does who are having to leave one fawn behind because they can't find enough food to provide milk for both."
All the deer watched as Anise and Licorice withdrew to the Hilton pen to grieve as good friends do with one another. But, deer are different than humans. They rebound quickly and move on. That is their nature and as Mother Nature intended. In the wild deer live in fear of predators taking their children, from large birds to coyotes, and even fire ants, a deer's life is tenuous at best. At SIS Ranch, as at all deer facilities we have seen, the deer are given the opportunity to live and breed in safety.
"Anise and Licorice are mature does who understand the life balance," said Pepper, a mother for the third time, "and I know in their hearts they've set their babies free."
"Pepper knows more than I," said Rosemary, a first-time mom of two, "but I do know that in the wild I would've probably had to choose to keep only one of my babies. A first-time mom with twins can sometimes not have enough milk, and I was not sure I could do it. It was best to send Puckson to a wonderful ranch, in fact, Pepper's old home. I know he will be raised with love and attention, and I can devote myself to raising a strong little girl in Rosebud."
"Anise and Licorice are my friends and I miss talking to them, " said Falstaff with sadness in his eyes. "I look forward to the day when they aren't so sad."
Life is full of blessings and sadness and we revel in the blessings and learn from the sadness. We hold out hope for our buck fawns now in the hands of Mother Nature, but no matter what, we know we did the best we could to give them a fighting chance.
The SIS Ranch Family
"We have often posted about this race to have our babies first, or so-and-so is better than the other," said Mistletoe, who considers herself sort of the reporter for all, "but Licorice's loss is a loss for us all. We've told Licorice that these things happen and sometimes you have to let Mother Nature take her course. We are lucky to live where we have every possible care and attention from our Humans. They have given us plenty of food and water, and snacks. And, in this hot, dry summer in south Texas, we are lucky that we don't have to make a choice about which baby to save. We've heard about some of the wild does who are having to leave one fawn behind because they can't find enough food to provide milk for both."
All the deer watched as Anise and Licorice withdrew to the Hilton pen to grieve as good friends do with one another. But, deer are different than humans. They rebound quickly and move on. That is their nature and as Mother Nature intended. In the wild deer live in fear of predators taking their children, from large birds to coyotes, and even fire ants, a deer's life is tenuous at best. At SIS Ranch, as at all deer facilities we have seen, the deer are given the opportunity to live and breed in safety.
"Anise and Licorice are mature does who understand the life balance," said Pepper, a mother for the third time, "and I know in their hearts they've set their babies free."
"Pepper knows more than I," said Rosemary, a first-time mom of two, "but I do know that in the wild I would've probably had to choose to keep only one of my babies. A first-time mom with twins can sometimes not have enough milk, and I was not sure I could do it. It was best to send Puckson to a wonderful ranch, in fact, Pepper's old home. I know he will be raised with love and attention, and I can devote myself to raising a strong little girl in Rosebud."
"Anise and Licorice are my friends and I miss talking to them, " said Falstaff with sadness in his eyes. "I look forward to the day when they aren't so sad."
Life is full of blessings and sadness and we revel in the blessings and learn from the sadness. We hold out hope for our buck fawns now in the hands of Mother Nature, but no matter what, we know we did the best we could to give them a fighting chance.
The SIS Ranch Family
posted by Cynthia | 3:06 PM
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