The Summit is Closed – Hiking with Cattle!

 

Conservation grazing is a grassland management tool that presents special challenges for hikers.  Let’s talk about hiking with cows!

 

Early Morning Hike

 

I’m out for an early morning hike in a less visited area of Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve.  The grass hillsides and oak woodland are drab beneath the dreary sky.  From my vantage point I can usually see the Pacific Ocean, roughly 20 miles distant.  But the low overcast hides the water and obscures the forested ridges that run between my high perch and the coast. 

This weather is normal for the Santa Cruz Mountains.  And I don’t expect rain.  Sometime during my hike the rising sun will burn off the coastal gloom that has seeped inland through gaps in the ridges.

 

On the Trail

After about two miles, the trail starts to wind its way upward toward the summit of Mindego Hill.  I hope to reach the top just as the clouds burn off.  There’s nothing like breakfast on a hill overlooking the ocean!

 

 

As I climb, I begin to see cows below me and on the ridgeline, above.  Conservation grazing is a grassland management tool in California.  The cattle fill the niche of native large grazing animals that Californians extirpated from the region.  They help prevent wildfires by consuming vegetation that would otherwise become tinder dry fuel.  And they help control invasive vegetation.

 

 

 

 

The Summit is Closed

I continue my climb and anticipate the view as I approach the summit.  The sky still hasn’t cleared.  But I have time to wait.  It’s one of those days when I have nowhere to go and all day to get there.

As I begin the last climb to the summit, I notice dark shapes at the top.  They’re large.  Too large to be human.

 

 

My path is blocked by a herd of cows relaxing on the summit.  Is there room for me?

 

 

 

 

I circle around, hoping to approach unobtrusively and occupy an unclaimed part of the hilltop.  But no such luck.  The herd has spread out around the summit.

As I draw near, I detect a watchful vibe from the animals.  Usually, I find cows quickly become habituated to hikers.  They maintain a relaxed watchfulness but are otherwise unphased.  But these cows are anxious.  Several spring to their feet and they form a loose circle on the summit.  This is my first visit to the preserve since they started their grazing program.  I wonder if these cows are new to the area?  Are there calves nearby that I can’t see?

 

 

 

I stop and observe them quietly.  But I can tell they don’t like my presence.  There is actually a menace I don’t usually feel from cows.  I’m vaguely disappointed — usually cows like me! 

It would be ironic to die of “mad cow disease” during a COVID pandemic.  So I turn back toward the trailhead.  Discretion is the better part of valor.  And I can reach the summit an udder day.  🙂 

 

Hiking with Cows

I’ve hiked near grazing cows hundreds of times without incident.  Mostly, they’re too busy eating grass to pay much attention to me.  But you should still be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to what the cows are doing.  Here are some tips for hiking safely when cows are nearby:

 

• Keep a safe distance. If cattle block the trail, approach slowly and speak normally.  Give them a chance to move away.

 

• Cows are not aggressive, but will defend themselves if they feel threatened. Always make sure the animal has a clear path away from you.  Don’t create a situation where the cow feels cornered.

 

• If you hike with a dog, do not let your pet chase or harass livestock. This protects both you and your pet.

 

• Cows are protective of their young. Don’t walk between a mother and its calf.  And of course, don’t try to pet them!

 

• If the trail passes through fencing, close all gates behind you.

 

• Report aggressive, diseased, or dead animals to the authority that manages the land. Note the location of the animal, color, and any markings it may have.

 

Hiking Home

The clouds finally break and the sky becomes a wonderful aqua.  The sunlight reveals a riot of colors along the trail.  California poppies, lupine, and a dozen other wildflowers guide me home.

 

 

 

 

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