This blog is a great motivator to get out and explore Little Lake Valley, through all its nooks and crannies, and not just to drive around, but to stop and get out even more. I found a convenient turnout across Holland Lane from a corral of goats. I walked over to take a few pictures of the fair sized herd, and was greeted by a few bleats from among them. They didn't seem particularly alarmed, or even attentive to my presence. But all at once, more than half a dozen of them crouched and evacuated their bowels and bladders. Was this reflexive of feeding anticipation? Or a quirk of goat culture, unknown to me, offered in friendly obeisance? I was downwind. I didn't stay long.
15 comments:
That is the most wonderful composition. I love this picture! I can't wait to show my little girl. She is crazy about goats and sheep.
"Louis" doesn't blame you for not lingering after that greeting!
That's a puzzle alright. I am no goat expert so I will pass the explanation on to someone else. I did get a chuckle envisioning you and your swift departure. That really does take "camera shy" to a whole new level.
Hahahaha! Thanks for the wonderful belly laugh, Elaine! I needed that! :D
I don't know the answer to your question but we went to Aullwood farm and in the barn were some nanny goats of different ages and sizes. When we approached, they all turned their rear ends up to us and lifted their tails. We smiled, looked at each other and I snapped the picture. I have never posted it for obvious reasons. LOL
my Alien
Don't take it personally, Elaine. I worked with herds of goats, inter alia, for six years at Heifer Ranch (Heifer International). It's just what goats do when people come around. We in Livestock used to call it The Nervous Piddle.
I love goats. Each one has a personality.
Goats always seem to attack me. Horrible beasties! ;)
Adventures in blogging..
When we find them at petting zoos and the like, they sort of creep me out the way the tend to crowd me, generally all at the same time. That is nothing, however, compared to a mass evacuation!
Have you ever yeard of the goats that pass out when you touch them? ROTFLOL. There is a farm here that has them. Amazing creatures.
They were probably scared sh*tless because they thought one of them would end up in goat curry for dinner. :-)
It is a reall secret.I like to know what is their talking about?!
They may talk about Who is that photographer woman?! ;)
Each anim has a diffrent world in his mind.
I seem to recall you have a real way with the livestock. They tend to greet you in special ways.
Why does it not surprise me that Dina worked with Heifer International?
Laurie - They did that all by themselves; no direction from me, and I liked it too. ;^)
Louis - Well, I got what I came for, so I "high tailed it".
Virginia - I've heard of "shy bladder" (people who can't pee in public restrooms?), but that wasn't the problem here, obviously.
Hilda - Happy to have done so! 8^)
Abraham - Speaking of shy, I never would have applied that term to you! But don't go getting any ideas...
Dina - Thank you for that explanation! The wisdom of experience is what I was looking for. Honest, I didn't mean to make them nervous. I prefer to think they were thrilled.
Kris - That describes my most recent encounter with a llama. Zombie monster!!!
Kelly - I'm sure they can just tell how wonderful you are to be around. 8^)
Chris - You're kidding! No!
Ming - I swear, I was as nice as I can be, and I didn't even get very close!
Sara - It's true, I was a complete stranger to them. I wonder what they said too.
Petrea - It's a gift, really. I just have to sort of run with it, so to speak.
The "fainting" goats have a genetic thing that makes their muscles go stiff when they are startled. So they fall over and their legs remain stiff for about ten seconds.
Sara reminds me of the legend I heard in Arkansas that every Christmas Eve at midnight the farm animals speak human language for one hour. I never managed to stay up that late to eavesdrop in the barn.
Elaine, you'd love the spring Women's Lambing Week at Heifer Ranch http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.1347487/ I'm not kidding!
I think goats are really cute.
Actually I was surprised by how few goats I have seen here in Turkey - somehow I expected more(there are loads of sheep though)
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