When I read about the coyote hunts, another memory was jogged and it took me awhile to connect the name with the memory, but believe I have the connection now.
The name Vanderfords should ring a bell for some of us, and if this needs correcting please do so.
They also lived south east of Haigler, and were in our little community. I'm having a hard time actually remembering the whole family, but what I do remember seemed to be quite unique at the time, and probably even into this day and age.
I can remember my folks pulling up into Vanderfords yard and lo and behold, what was to greet us were two little fuzzy, stepping all over each other, yipping pups on chains. They were so cute and I was not quite understanding why the adults would not let me close enough to pet and hold the little ones. Of course I wanted one, a baby pup, who wouldn't want one.
Anyway, as it was explained to me, puppies were not always dogs, coyotes had pups and that is what these were. I believe the mama had been killed and Vanderfords had come across the den of pups and wanted to save them so they brought them home, nursed them to health and kept them for awhile chained. If I remember, the folks said Vanderfords actually kept them quite awhile, but they were getting pretty mean and I guess they eventually had to unchain them and let them go back to nature.
I just thought what a neat thing to do for wild animal babies. Memories like these make all Haiglerittes unique in their own way.
The name Vanderfords should ring a bell for some of us, and if this needs correcting please do so.
They also lived south east of Haigler, and were in our little community. I'm having a hard time actually remembering the whole family, but what I do remember seemed to be quite unique at the time, and probably even into this day and age.
I can remember my folks pulling up into Vanderfords yard and lo and behold, what was to greet us were two little fuzzy, stepping all over each other, yipping pups on chains. They were so cute and I was not quite understanding why the adults would not let me close enough to pet and hold the little ones. Of course I wanted one, a baby pup, who wouldn't want one.Anyway, as it was explained to me, puppies were not always dogs, coyotes had pups and that is what these were. I believe the mama had been killed and Vanderfords had come across the den of pups and wanted to save them so they brought them home, nursed them to health and kept them for awhile chained. If I remember, the folks said Vanderfords actually kept them quite awhile, but they were getting pretty mean and I guess they eventually had to unchain them and let them go back to nature.
I just thought what a neat thing to do for wild animal babies. Memories like these make all Haiglerittes unique in their own way.
I enjoy reading so many of these memories from other people. This is like a learning session of things going on and missing out on some of it. When I think back of all the good, clean fun we all had, I'd do it all over again.
-- Submitted by Karen (White) Lindell
-- Submitted by Karen (White) Lindell
The Father's name was Charlie. Norvin was one class ahead of me and Kenny, who lives in Benkelman, was in my class of 1957. Sad news to report. A couple of years ago, Norvin was killed when he fell from a scaffolding at his home in Cottonwood, AZ.
ReplyDeleteI cannot remember Mrs. Vanderford's first name. I used to see them on Saturday night in Haigler. The kind of people you wished you had as neighbors.
Kenny, my father has told me stories about raising coyotes on their farm. My father said that my Grandmother (Elsie) was the only one the coyotes would allow near them once they were full grown. He still has pictures of Elsie holding the coyotes and playing with them as if they were domestic dogs. Unfortunately this was long before my time.
ReplyDeleteDanny, Kenny's middle son, is my fiance. He and his dad have told me this story too. My dad would more likely trap the coyote pups than save them, but my dad did raise Canada geese, pheasants, and a quonset full of raccoons. The geese came back every year for a while as they migrated through.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Daniel, I'm Kenny's second son, out of three boys.
ReplyDeleteDad has also told me stories of the Vanderford farm, and the coyote puppies.
Dad said that they had to build a very large containment fence, complete with a top, in order to keep the coyotes from eating the chickens and other animals on the farm.
The coyotes had apparently developed a fond taste for fresh chicken, and quickly learned to lure the farm animals close enough to the fence, for a snack. The coyotes would push their own food dishes up to the fence to lure them in, and when a chicken or cat would try for a snack, they would loose a leg or wing, or wind up dead. Dad said it was terrible. Nearly all the farm animals had a wing, or a leg missing, due to the clever coyotes. "It was like a freak show," Dad said.
The Vanderfords had to overcome this problem by nailing the food and water bowls to the ground!