Helicopters and their pilots, long used to round up cattle on sprawling ranches, have been hard at work since Hurricane Harvey hit Southeast Texas August 25. This article features Ryan Ashcraft, a helicopter pilot who has been helping rescue cattle in since the storm let up. Ten percent of the Texas cowherd is in the 54 counties declared disaster areas.
Source: New York Times, September 3, 2017 (paywall).
By his own accounting, Mr. Ashcroft saved thousands of cattle and dozens of people across seven counties last week. But freed animals can become stuck on hills without access to grass or fresh drinking water. Getting supplies to stranded cattle involves dropping food by helicopter or on horseback – or simply waiting until the water recedes.
INSIGHTS: This is a great reminder that it takes a team made up of all kinds of animal health pros to create success.