Predators

Everyone always asks if we have trouble with predators. Our usual answer is no because we have not lost sheep to coyotes, lions or bears . Besides we have Stoney the llama to stand guard. His former owner reports that he has killed several coyotes and chased a bear straight through the fence. Here, his biggest worries have been the neighbors' cattle. He hates them and only a strong fence keeps him from chasing them into the creek. So we feel fairly safe from cattle, coyotes, bears and lions. However, we have had predator problems of the smaller sort: raccoon, possum, skunk, rats, rattlers, a great horned owl, and just this week, a vicious yellow jacket.

We were cleaning out the barn and getting ready to put up this year's hay. It is a dusty job and the jug of water ran out. We decided to open cans of soda to enjoy as we finished sorting through the stuff that accumulates in a barn over a year. While our attention was diverted, a yellow jacket decided to join us and share John's soda. John paused in his labors, reached for his soda, yelped and started spitting. The yellow jacket did not want to share the soda and stung--well maybe bit-- the inside of his upper lip.

John has been stung many times and only this summer has started showing an allergic reaction to their venom. Because of this, he didn't hesitate but ran to the house to get some Benadryl and ice. Within fifteen minutes it was obvious that this sting was something serious. As you can see in his photo his lip became enormous. I hate to say it but to me he looked like a cartoon character and I couldn't help laughing.

We finally decided to consult with his VA phone nurse. The verdict was get to the Mather VA hospital in Sacramento ASAP. We learned that when there are stings in the mouth it is likely that the tongue will swell and block the windpipe. I made the hour an a half drive with John complaining that I worried too much and that the swelling was going down. True, his lip was smaller but the right side of his face was swollen by the time we got to the hospital. They put him on IV Benadryl and monitored him through the night. His throat did swell but minimally since he was on medication. When the doctor was satisfied that the throat tissue swelling was receeding he was released.

He's ok now and back to cleaning the barn and tending our sheep.