WildCreatures

These wild deer live in a beautiful, protected forest in Ontario, Canada. It is a huge expanse of land where people cannot hunt or harm the animals in any way. The deer have grown to trust the humans that walk here and spend time quietly watching them. This man has found that with enough time, and enough patience, the deer will actually come close enough to smell the scent of an apple. The deer have remarkable hearing and they can hear the crunch of apples or carrots from a long way away. After enough time, the deer came close and ate right from his hand. Spending time sitting quietly in a forest is good for the soul. It is especially soothing to do so in the company of a herd of wild deer.

This calf has a serious case of the zoomies! Check it out!

Sharks are one of the most incredible animals. Their sleek and powerful bodies cut through the water with a majestic grace that is seen in few other creatures. They are agile and quick, able to accelerate in an instant. To swim with them evokes a mixture of fear and awe in anyone who is adventurous enough to enter their domain. These silvertip sharks are bulkier than most reef sharks and they reach a length of almost 3.5m (10 feet) and a weight of 210kg (350lb). They are known to be an aggressive apex predator, feeding on fish, eagle rays, octopus, and squid. They are dominant sharks that will often dominate other reef sharks and Galapagos sharks, stealing food from them. Silvertips are capable of diving to depths of 800m (2600 feet) in search of food. Their teeth are shaped in a manner different from other sharks, allowing them to "saw" off chunks of flesh with violent twists and turns. These scuba divers were taking part in a controlled exercise that involved using fish scraps to attract the sharks for photographs and video that will help learn more about the sharks and their behaviour. Research on sharks will provide answers to the many questions that will lead to more successful conservation efforts. To lose our sharks would be beyond tragic.

The sloth bears of India are one of the greatest and saddest examples of animal abuse known. Also referred to as "Dancing Bears", the animals have been kept by a nomadic tribe that use them to generate income through entertainment. Unsuspecting tourists and villagers are treated to a performance that has the bears dancing on their hind legs. It's adorable at first glance, but it's a horrific practice beneath the surface. The bears are captured at a young age, often by killing the mother. Hot steel pokers are used to bore a hole in the muzzle through which a rope is inserted and tied. Pulling on this rope causes excruciating pain and the bear will do almost anything to avoid it. Their teeth are knocked out in a barbaric fashion so that the bears cannot defend themselves. They are then at the mercy of the cruel handlers who torture the animals until they are submissive and willing to perform. Providing these handlers with money supports an industry that continues the cycle. India has passed laws that made the practice illegal. Enforcing these laws was another matter and it took the efforts of rescue agencies to truly change what was happening. Through funding and donations, organizations like WilddlifeSOS were able to purchase the bears and give them a proper home and a second chance at life. Part of the problem was ensuring that the practice did not repeat. WildlifeSOS has educated and trained thousands of nomadic people in order to give them marketable skills and better options than enslaving animals for profit. This is the only way to solve the problems that encourage the trade. These bears are living a new life and they have begun to show natural behaviours such as play and relaxation. They may never truly heal from the life that has broken them, but they now know kindness and compassion in this wonderful sanctuary. WildlifeSOS can only provide assistance to deserving animals through private donations. Please consider visiting their website and helping in any way you can. WildlifeSOS.org The facility and the people behind it are among the most professional and dedicated in the world.

Galapagos penguins are a very unique animal. They have adapted for life near the equator, being able to survive in a near tropical environment. Typically, we expect to see them in habitats that are covered in ice, such as the south pole. They are actually found in the colder points in South Africa as well. But life near the equator is not ideal for them for many reasons. The Galapagos Islands have a very unique climate that occurs due to the convergence of three powerful ocean currents. The Cromwell Current brings cooler water to the area, along with a supply of the fish and animals that are found in those cooler regions. This penguin is able to thrive on Isabela Island because there is an ample supply of mullets and sardines, the fish makes up most of the penguin's diet. There are thousands of penguins on Isabela Island, and many populations one a few of the other, nearby islands. The Galapagos penguin is the second smallest species of this bird, reaching a height of less than 50cm (19 inches) and weinging only 2.5 kg (6lb). Penguins are adorable characters and to be able to come this close to one is simply amazing!

India is described as a country of extremes. It is a land of indescribable beauty and wonder that can be found right next to extreme poverty and hardship. Cities are full of beautiful buildings and monuments, but the struggle of those who are barely surviving is obvious in front of them. Stray cows in India are part of a complex set of circumstances. Law and religious beliefs prevent the use of cows for food, yet the production of milk is widespread and necessary to feed the masses. Farming is especially challenging in this world and those who own cows are largely subsistence farmers who are producing only enough to feed their families and possibly make a few dollars monthly above that. They cannot afford to keep an animal that is not producing for them. They also cannot afford to buy food and they rely on the cows being able to graze on undeveloped lots. The cows are allowed to wander throughout the day and they can be found all throughout the cities. Sadly, some of these cows eat out of dumpsters, and they ingest plastic and other garbage as they do so. While these conditions are not suitable for these gentle beasts, by any standards, the farmers are struggling to survive and they simply have no other choice. But when the cows become ill due to poor nutrition or obstructions in their digestive systems, they stop producing milk. The farmers cannot afford to keep them and the cows are set loose in the street. The cities in India are home to more than 5 million cows and this number is growing rapidly. The stray cows can be found wandering the streets and even standing in fast moving traffic. The people of India are very respectful and compassionate when it comes to these poor souls and they frequently stop to share food such as bread or lentils. This very generous rickshaw driver has brought these cows some bread. He is tentative about approaching them and he seems nervous as he puts the bread down. The cows gratefully eat the food and the driver returns quickly to his scooter to get back to work. In a city of many millions of people, it is heart warming to see someone stop and take the time to help an unfortunate animal.

Octopus are a rare sight for scuba divers, especially in broad daylight. They are ferocious and capable night hunters, preferring the cover of darkness to ambush fish that are trying to hide among the coral. They are highly intelligent and cunning hunters with keen senses and the ability to fit into tiny spaces. This allows them to seek and grab prey where other predators cannot go. Octopus are powerful and can overcome even a large fish. They have been known to prey on sharks and other top predators. Their camouflage is near perfect as they adapt their colour and texture to match the surfaces around them. This makes them difficult to see and scuba divers most often sight them in darkness. This octopus emerged cautiously from his lair right in front of a surprised and delighted scuba diver. It changed colours to blend in with the coral beneath it, showing beautiful shades of blue, grey, and pink as it moved. This camouflage ability requires significant brain capacity. It is used for avoiding detection and also for communication with other octopus. Depending on the species, an octopus may live from six months to five years. in almost all species, a male octopus will die shortly after mating and a female will die soon after her eggs have hatched. Mating will alter their metabolism, causing them to stop eating completely. The female lives long enough to keep her eggs oxygenated and clean. Without her efforts, the eggs will not survive. This unforgettable close up encounter with this animal was a thrill for this scuba diver.

Monkeys in India love their treats from tourists. These rhesus monkeys live in the forested area near the outskirts of the city of Agra. they come down from the trees looking for food. Because there are many fruit and vegetable stands along this highway, they hang around the wall in hopes that the vendors will be distracted long enough that they can grab a banana or an apple. Often, the vendors will actually feed the monkeys. Kindness and compassion for these animals is widespread and the monkeys are given peanuts and fruit regularly. The monkeys have learned to eat quickly due to competition from larger monkeys in their troop, as well as the larger gray langur monkeys. If they don't hurry, they might be chased off before getting much of a share. These monkeys are shoveling peanuts into their faces with an impressive two fisted approach that was very amusing for those watching. Keeping an eye out for the dominant monkeys, they work at a feverish pace. Fortunately, there were enough peanuts and bananas for all of the monkeys to get a decent meal.

Fiona is a remarkable cow. She's friendly and inquisitive beyond what we might expect from an ordinary cow. Her friend, Dave has come for a little visit with the herd and to check on the calves that are being born in the meadow. As he had a seat to keep an eye on one of the pregnant cows who was about to give birth, he decided to play a little music on his phone. He was a little curious about how the cows would respond to the music. Fiona, who was grazing happily nearby, took a sudden interest as he began playing a song by Coldplay. She lifted her head and walked straight over, having a sniff of the phone in Dave's hand. But her big wet nose actually changed the song playing to another one by Len, called "Steal My Sunshine". Fiona seemed to be okay with that one, but the puddle of slobber on the phone affected things and the song stopped. Dave picked another song, "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix. Fiona listens briefly and moos what seems to be disapproval before she turns and walks away. Perhaps the heavy guitar riffs were not to her liking.

Hope is ten days old and she is a very happy little calf. She lives on a beautiful farm in Millbrook, Ontario. She was born on a wram spring day in the middle of a gorgeous, green meadow full of lush, green grass. Her mother, Fiona takes excellent care of her and they wander over the hills with the rest of the herd. They drink from the pond and graze contentedly. Gus, the large, but gentle bull watches them protectively as he also grazes in the sunshine. Fiona is an especially trusting mother and one of her friends, Dave often comes to visit and bring her corn. She has shown Hope that Dave is trustworthy enough to approach for an ear scratch and a pet on the head. Hope quickly became very fond of the petting and she is now as affectionate as a large puppy. When Dave comes to visit, she bounces happily and invites him to chase her and bounce as well. Happiness like this warms our hearts. Check out her heartwarming reaction when her buddy comes for a visit. Priceless!

This bunch of squirmy baby squirrels has been brought to a veterinarian for a checkup before being taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

Governments have been trying to perform more testing for Covid 19, including tests on people who have no symptoms and no suspicion that they could have Covid 19. These tests are done to collect data that will assist in everything from predicting infection numbers to assessing methods of transmission. This family has volunteered to attend a community drive-through test centre. At least, two out of three of them volunteered. Dave, the passenger in the front wasn't aware of the plan until he was picked up after dropping his car off for repairs. He got into the van with his wife, Kristy and their son, Christian. It was then that Dave learned of the plan. Maybe they purposely didn't tell him until they were on the way because they're heard him talk about the swab as if its a horrendous ordeal to be avoided. He's a little squeamish about cotton swabs and sticks being inserted in his nasal cavity. But as it turns out, the event was a lot less traumatic and a lot more entertaining than Dave expected. Surprisingly, Dave was the one who seemed the least affected of the three, despite his earlier protests, whining and pleading. He actually congratulates himself afterwards for crying less than he expected. Nasal swabs are actually only a brief and minor irritation. Lasting only a few seconds and similar in discomfort level to a little water up the nose, these tests are nothing to fear. If a big chicken like Dave can do it, anybody can do it.

Eunice is a proud mother of a calf born just a few hours earlier. Gladys entered the world on a sunny day on this beautiful farm in Millbrook, Ontario. She could not have chosen a better farm to live on. She has vast expanses of lush, green grass, ponds to drink fresh water from, woodlands to explore and a wonderful herd of protective cows. There is even a massive, but gentle bull named Gus. He watches over the herd as he grazes in the freedom of this amazing farm. The farmers must put a tag on Gladys to help keep track of her medical treatments and healthcare in the years to come. It will be important that they can identify the cows when they make future decisions regarding breeding as well. Another thing that they need to do is to treat the umbilical cord of the newborn to protect the site from infection and infestation by flies that will lay destructive eggs on the exposed flesh. As the farmers and their assistant approach Eunice and her baby, they are well aware that she will not enjoy them being so close. The calf is not able to run away yet, but they use a rope placed loosely around its neck to keep it from making things difficult. They all move in and try to make the procedure go quickly, but Eunice becomes very agitated and she charges them. She puts her head down and runs straight at the assistant, easily pushing him backwards. She weighs more than 1,000lbs and is strong enough to toss him like a rag doll if she wants. She is also more agile than he is and far more motivated. The assistant places his hands on her head and shuffles backwards, trying to stay on his feet and keep her from trampling him. Fortunately, she does not mean him harm and she backs up to go back to her baby. Cows are gentle and docile creatures, but they will understandably protect their calves if they feel threatened. To come between a mother cow and her newborn can have unpredictable and serious consequences. We often don't understand the dangers of this seemingly easy profession. When the calf was treated and released, Eunice calmed down and nursed her calf.

This gigantic green caterpillar was found wandering over a stump at a cottage in Parry Sound, Ontario. It was as big as a small sausage and the mandibles looked strong enough to cut through a small sapling. These caterpillars metamorphose into the Polyphemus moth, one of the largest moths in North America. These caterpillars feed voraciously for two months before making a cocoon and pupating. They eat the leaves of birch, oak, hickory, walnut, and fruit trees and they are able to strip the leaves off the entire branch in one day. Due to their relatively small numbers, Polyphemus moth caterpillars do not pose a threat to trees or forest. The caterpillars hatch into huge, brown moths that have non functional mouths and no digestive system. They have a very short life span, living only 7-10 days. During this time as adults, they do not eat. They reproduce as quickly as possible, laying hundreds of eggs, continuing the cycle. The most striking feature of the Polyphemus moth is the large spots on the wings that resemble large eyes, a self defense against birds and other predators that will mistake the moth for part of a larger creature. Females will mate once and then spend the rest of their brief lives laying eggs. The male may mate several times. The female will emit pheromones which the male can detect from more than a mile away to help him find her. From the time that a Polyphemus moth caterpillar emerges until it dies, it will consume 86,000 times its initial weight on vegetation as it grows rapidly. As adults, the moths have a wingspan of 4-6 inches (up to 15cm). They are strikingly beautiful. Although they are not uncommon, they are rare to see due to their short lifespan and nocturnal habits.

Laurie and her mother have a new reclining chair. It was bought for them as a gift by another family member. But, like all new things, there is often a learning curve. Laurie's mother has settled into her new chair and managed to get the footrest up. The chair has flattened out, placing her at a very reclined angle. She should be able to enjoy some television or even a snooze in this comfortable position. The challenge, however comes when she tries to get out of the chair. Getting the footrest back in and the back of the chair up is not nearly as easy as it seems. Laurie bursts into fits of giggles and laughter, promising to help when she can get over the amusement. We can hear Laurie struggling to contain herself but she reveals that her ribs hurt from laughing and she is near wetting her pants. Although the struggle is real, her mother laughs as well, alternating between serious effort and serious amusement. She is determined that the chair will not win this fight and she manages to claim victory in the end. Slightly exhausted from her three minute battle, she turns and flashes a grin at her daughter, showing that she is a very good sport. Family moments like these are rarely forgotten. Even if Laurie's mother masters the techniques needed to use this chair, the laughter over this fight will continue for years to come.

Chris has always had a love for animals. Animals seem to sense this in people and will often approach them curiously, as they do with Chris in this video. He has chosen a spot on a log in a protected forest in Ontario, Canada. The deer are completely wild and they are free to roam through a vast area of beautiful forest. Because they are not hunted here, they have little reason to fear humans. The animals in this forest will often allow people to get much closer than usual and those who visit are often rewarded with the sight of deer grazing in the distance. But Chris shows how it's possible to sit quietly and wait for them to come close. He has brought a few apples and carrots and the sound and smell of the crunchy treats makes them curious enough to come right up to share. Eventually, he gains their trust completely. Chris moves slowly and speaks softly and soon has the deer eating right out of his hand. Many people would be thrilled to have a close look or encounter with a wild animal like this, but to be able to touch and feed a deer like Chris is doing provides memories that will never be forgotten. For Chris, this is not an isolated incident. He finds himself surrounded by animals wherever he goes. Whether its sea turtles, wild birds, horses, and even sharks, Chris befriends them all.

Felix is a three week old foal with a lot of energy and a love for playing and bouncing in the sunshine. He is a happy little horse and his mother is very proud of her new baby. She happily grazes on grass while Felix visits with a new friend and invites him to play and run with him. Felix' mother, Fling is a very trusting mare who has no problem with Felix making new friends. She keeps a watchful eye as she nibbles grass and hay but she isn't worried at all. Felix will nurse for several months and he will grow quickly. He will become a very graceful and powerful horse in a very short time. Until then, his days will be spent alongside his mother as he romps and plays, nurses and sleeps, living a great life on this wonderful farm in the country.

The giant Galapagos tortoises are one of the most recognizable and iconic animals on our planet. Gentle giants, they reach an astounding 400-500lbs when fully grown and are capable of nearing 1,000lbs in some cases. They are believed to live as long as 200 years or even more. This giant beast is a mature male who lives free in a protected area. Although conservation laws are in place to protect these tortoises in all areas, the Island of Santa Cruz is very active in breeding and conservation programs that involve collecting and hatching the eggs of the tortoises. In this way, they can be protected during their most vulnerable period and the survival rate of the hatchlings increases dramatically. A camera placed on the trail captured this old man's trek from a meadow to a nearby pond. Slow moving and incapable of catching or harming almost any creature, they feed exclusively on plants. Their only means of defense is their ability to outwait any other animal. They can retract their necks to pull their head inside their shell. They have a thick, armour-like skin on their legs that makes them impervious to injury. They simply lie still with their vulnerable areas protected inside their dense, bony shell. They can survive as long as a full year without food or water. In this way, predators would give up long before the tortoise needed to come out of hiding. Powerful animals, they walk through dense brush with a slow, deliberate pace, making their way from one feeding area to another. They are able to eat a wide variety of foliage on the islands. In times of drought, they can stretch their long necks to reach the green leaves that grow above the ground. It was the special adaptation of a groove in the shell near the front that caught Charles Darwin's attention, leading him to the conclusion that the tortoises here had evolved to suit their surroundings. This groove was not present in their cousins from Africa where low growing vegetation was more plentiful year round. It is believed that these giant tortoise found their way to the Galapagos Islands on rafts of vegetation many thousands of years ago. Their ability to survive without food or fresh water for so long was the reason that they lived until the end of their journey.

Wind turbines have become commonplace in North America, as well as other parts of the world, in our quest for a clean energy alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear power. We have yet to find the perfect solution that addresses the concerns of all. It is a difficult balance between environmental impact, financial costs, and the impacts on our health. This wind farm is a rare example of what can happen when the physical stresses placed on one of these giant propeller blades result in a explosion and fragmentation of the massive blades.

There is a beautiful forest in Ontario, Canada where the animals cannot be hunted. They have come to trust humans enough that they will often allow them close enough to enjoy their beauty as they graze contentedly. But, if someone is patient enough to sit very still and quiet for long enough, amazing things can happen. Serena is an animal lover with a talent for attracting creatures of all kinds. There is no doubt that animals can sense things that we, as people cannot. When she sat almost motionless, the deer were curious and they couldn’t help but come closer to have a look. She had also brought them some corn. As they approached and grazed near her, she sat perfectly still and didn’t make a sound. Eventually, the deer wandered close enough to see that she had a snack for them. Over time, they came to check her out and eat right out of her hand. They circled her and became very comfortable to share this moment in the forest with her. It is a very peaceful experience to sit in a quiet forest, but even more so to sit in the middle of a herd of wild deer that are close enough to touch. Deer are social animals that communicate with each other constantly through subtle movements. Even the position of their tails and ears send signals to other deer. They are far more aware of our body language, our eye movements, and even our breathing than we realize. As we come to understand this, it becomes more obvious why certain people seem to have an ability to get close to wild animals, as we see in this video.

Drones allow videographers to capture incredible footage of things we simply couldn't see without a bird's eye perspective. Able to fly up close or above the action, they bring the camera, and the viewer right up to things that would be possible otherwise. Wind turbines are a good example of something that few people ever see close up. We can see them from the road as we drive past a wind farm. We might even see them from the ground, some distance away, but these drones bring us within a few metres of the massive propellers for a look that is stunning. Another thing that is simply breath taking is a sunset filmed or viewed from a high vantage point. A hike up a big hill, or a trek to the top of a building will often be worth the effort just for a clear and unobstructed view of the setting sun. The colours and the spectacle are more beutiful when viewed from the right spot. Drones allow us to see what the setting sun looks like from the perfect angle and we get a wider view of the horizon for a panoramic view of the entire scene. This drone operator flew his drone over the wind farm to capture footage of the huge machines and he realized that he was also set up for the fiery glow of dusk on the distant horizon over Lake Ontario. Enjoy a perfectly timed view filmed from the ideal spot. Sometimes the most beautiful pictures and videos are captured completely by accident.

Larry is a little calf who has just come into the world. He is literally just a few minutes old as we see him getting up onto his wobbly legs to follow his mother for his first drink of milk. Larry was born on a beautiful evening in late May on this wonderful farm in Millbrook, Ontario. Bernice is a seasoned mother. Experience and instinct tell her to lick the calf clean immediately. Larry hasn't even gotten used to the sunshine and his mother is carefully licking all of the afterbirth away. Nature is a beautiful thing, but sometimes it is also less than pretty. Bernice knows she must remove any smell of blood that would attract predators. Larry will not get to his feet for up to an hour after birth and she can't afford to let the scent of his arrival bring hungry animals. IN the wild, Larry would need to be able to walk and run as quickly as possible and the first few minutes are his most vulnerable. Bernice ate all of the afterbirth and made sure that he was as fresh as possible. This licking also cements their bond and stimulates Larry to be more alert and willing to move. Bernice wandered a short distance away and Larry took the cue to get onto his feet. He is adorably clumsy as he struggles for his first steps. Bernice is already hungry and she grazes and waits patiently. She has sought a quieter spot, away from the herd, to give birth, but the other cows are now gathered around her protectively. Larry is hungry himself and he instinctively knows where he needs to look for food. Larry's first drink will be full of antibodies and high protein milk for his early development of a strong immune system. It will also help in the bonding process between mother and calf. Bernice and Larry will be able to find each other in the herd by sound or smell and he will drink lots of milk in his early days, growing bigger each day. Larry's life on this farm will be a good one. He will nurse for almost a year, wandering freely over a vast expanse of lush, green meadow. He will have ponds full of fresh water and a large and protective bull named Gus, watching over the herd.

Golden retrievers have some of the most adorable puppies in the world. Beautiful dogs with a disposition to match, they are one of the best family dogs you could ask for. When they have been raised by knowledgeable and ethical breeders, like As Good As Gold in Cavan, Ontario, the results are simply perfect. These puppies are the love children of two amazing dogs with personalities that cannot be beat. The breeders here place a high emphasis on nutrition and health, caring for the puppies like they are children. The bond and trust begins at birth and by the time the puppies leave for their forever families, they are already suited for life with children and loving parents. When selecting a good breeder, one of the most obvious things to look for is how much emphasis they place on selecting the right homes. If they truly care for the dogs enough to place them well and follow up with support, advice, training, and high expectations for their upbringing, the dogs will thrive. People looking for the right dog should also seek advice from veterinarians and other owners. Of course, visiting the breeding site will also tell an owner if the dogs have the right facilities and care. Back yard breeders are common, but easily avoided if those points are followed. These breeders were thrilled and saddened at the same time to see these pups reach the age when they would leave. In celebration, they bought each puppy a pajama set and they dressed them up for a special play time and photo opportunity. Treats and extra love were served up as well while the pups frolicked in the sunshine. Every one of these puppies is going to a home where they will be loved and adored, as all dogs should be. A dog is forever. A dog is family. And every dog is As Good As Gold.

Stella is a wonderful and affectionate cat with four ears, due to a rare genetic mutation. She loves attention all day long and will even ask for her belly to be rubbed for more than the usual three seconds. Here, she is getting her regular checkup. Stacey, a Registered Veterinary Technician is checking her microchip to see that it is still detectable. She checks Stella's heart and lungs, and her overall health. Stella loves her checkups and her clinic family. This is the best day ever for her! Stella has two regular ears, but she also has two smaller ears that are distinct and separate from her larger ears. They sit behind the functional ears and they do not have ear drums or an ear canal. They do not cause Stella any difficulty nor do they give her superior hearing capabilities. The recessive gene which causes this to happen is extremely rare. It does not have a name and is not fully understood, but it is believed to exist in conjunction with reproductive and balance issues. When Stella was born, her owner decided that she was not worth keeping. He walked into a veterinary clinic with Stella in a box and he dumped her, without explanation and without even leaving his name. Stella was pregnant at the time and was in medical distress. Her kittens had died in her womb and she was dying herself due to a life-threatening infection. Stella was given an emergency C-section to remove her kittens and save her life. Stella recovered, although she suffers from neurological problems that are a result of her genetic mutation and her infection. Stella is a beautiful soul with a fondness for people and other animals, and she has made a wonderful addition to the family at the Sherbrooke Heights Animal Hospital in Peterborough, Ontario. She is a favorite among the clients who visit Sherbrooke Heights. She had also found a friend and snuggle buddy in one of the other clinic cats named Alvin. Sadly, Alvin passed away recently due to cancer. Now, Stella greets clients at the front lobby of the clinic as they arrive with their pets.

Hope loves attention and she loves when her friend Dave visits to pet her and play with her. A very unusual calf, she is affectionate with people much more than is typical. Hope is only five days old. Her mother, Fiona is also very affectionate and good natured. Within a few hours of being born, Fiona proudly introduced Hope to Dave and the two hit it off famously. Dave visits the cows almost every day during calving season, to check on them and also to see if there are any new babies in the meadow. Hope is always the first to come out of the herd to greet him. Hope lives on a beautiful farm where the cows graze freely and wander miles of lush, green pasture. It's a very happy life here and the cows are treated more like pets than farm creatures. They respond very well to kindness, as they are used to being handled well by the wonderful farmers who take care of them.