TSCRA News Release, 9-25-08

Fatigue, worry underlie continuing massive livestock relief efforts in hurricane-affected counties

Livestock panels donated by farm and ranch supply stores were wired together for make shift sorting pens in Chambers County. Stray cattle in the Hurricane Ike-affected areas were gathered into pastures, sorted by brand and then shipped to sale or to other pastures, according to the owner's instructions.

Photo by TSCRA.

Click here for high-resolution of the above: go.

The storm surge wiped out most of the working pens and loading chutes in the lower portions of Chamber and Jefferson Counties. Ranchers cobbled together this arrangement out of what they could find.

Photo by TSCRA.

Click here for high-resolution of the above:go.

TSCRA special rangers and local law enforcement worked together to identify the ownership of cattle before any animals were loaded and moved. TSCRA has 28 special rangers stationed in Texas and Oklahoma. Nine were dispatched to the area affected by Hurricane Ike immediately after the storm.

Photo by TSCRA.

Click here for a high-resolution of the above: go.

Cattle weary from stress, hungry from no good grass and thirsty from little fresh water were cranky and hard to move in Chambers and Jefferson Counties. The pilot uses the helicopter to help herd this group past the power company trucks lining the road. The cattle seemed to be unimpressed by the pilot's moves and slowly made their way along the road to better grass.

Photo by TSCRA.

Click here for a high-resolution of the above: go.