ALEXIS CREEK — Winter holds Chilcotin tight and squeezes until the snow screeches in pain, but yuu know that spring cannot be far behind when the calves are being born on the Downwind Tracker’s ranch. Most of them are born in those bitter, lonely hours just before the dawn. Those are the sarne hours when most of us are likely to die natural deaths. It seems to be nature’s changeover time. The lights burn all night now in the kitchen of the big log ranch house. There’s a copy of the se- cond edition of E.S.E. Hafez’s Reproduction in Farm Animals on the table and coffee always on the stove. If there weren't so much work, if it weren't so perishing cold out- side, it would be an occasion to drink poor whisky and tell good lies. The cows that are nearing delivery times are in the field, snow on their backs, eating $85- a-ton hay and looking more morose than apprehensive. But, then, Herefords always look morose. They have learned the meaning of life on a ranch, The Downwind Tracker makes his last check of the herd at dark. He goes to bed soon after supper. At 8 p.m. his wife layers herself in woolens and goes out to check. If a cow in the field has broken her water, she will drive her to the birth pen and, if necessary, help with the birth. This may involve reaching in- side to make sure the fetus is positioned correctly and turning it around if not. Sometimes it’s nec- Paul St. Pierre | PAULITICS & PERSPECTIVES essary to put 2 small chain on the little creature’s front legs and pull him down, That is her first shift. The cowboy, a retired school teacher who seems to enjoy this sort of thing, gets 1p and checks at 10 p.m. and again at midnight. The Downwind Tracker’s wife goes out again at 2a.m. At 4a.m. the Downwind Tracker gets up to make his check. He won’t got back to bed but will work until sundown agaiz:. This has been go- ing on for three weeks. On the fridge is a chart, made of magnetized cards, which show the status of every cow and calf, day by day. Peopte also leave notes for one another there. Almast all cows are known by number, but some have more per- sonality than others. The one they call **The Brangus with the Mamie Eisenhower bangs" is being a problem. She has separated herself from the bunch long ago. This is usually a sign that birthing is near. But nothing happens. **Lost two se far,’” says the Tracker. ‘‘Gained two when ve got two sets of twins.’* He skinn- eda stillborn calf, threw the wet hide over one of the twin calves and then ied the twin to a cow who had given birth to the dead one. She accepted the substitute. “Funny animals. lumber 148 tried to kill her calf the minute it came out, We just got him away from her in time. Put her ina squeeze box and put him on the tit. Once he started sucking it was all OK and she’s a good mother now, “‘Old 77, who’s given birth ! don’t know how many times, this year damned if she doesn’t roll on her calf in her sleep and smother it to death." It’s the hour before the dawn. Black as sin outside, a mooniess night and the fine needles of frost failing chrough the air and glinting in the light of the lantern. He comes back to the kitchen, his face waxen with cold and drinks coffee from a mug made in Japan by someone with more en- thusiasm than understanding for Canadian bilingualism. The bul! pictured is called La Bulle. GVRD finding 911 system well-used THE LOWER Mainland’s enhanced 911 phone system received its half-millionth call this month, just seven months after beginning operations on July 15. The centralized system provides emergency cali processing service to the entire Greater Vancouver Regional District by connecting with five municipal police forces, 14 RCMP detachments, 2) fire Any order placed for a medium 2-topping pizz2 between 7:30 pm and 9:15 pm will be priced with the time the order was placed. TOE THME YOd CAL! 15 TRE BEIGE DF YABR PIZZA Not valid on 2-for-l pizza. & Not valid with any other coupon ur promotion. Not including GST or PST where applicable. PANAGOPOUI 08 Pizza pLacE departments and the Provincial Ambulance Service. “The system has been averaging about 2,200 calls per day,’ said Janet Calder, the GVRD’s 911 administrator. ‘‘it’s working very well and we're pleased with the service now being provided.”’ The system cost approximate- ly $3 million to implement and costs about $3 million to operate annually, Operators are on duty 24 hours a day to route police, fire and ambulance calls to the appropriate municipal detach- ments. Informational talks about the 911 system can be provided by various police and fire depart- ments for schools and other intes- ested groups. For more informa- tion call Calder at 432-6215. Friday, March 15, 1991 - North Snore News - » Living and dying in Chilcotin winter chill **] believe in bunching up the births in February as much as you can. You may lose a few curs and tails in a cold snap but there’s longer for them Co sain weight be- fore sale time. I'll get $50 more to the calf, and besices, because mine are usually nice and even in size, 39 two cents a pound more because the buyers like even bun- ches.”” He strokes the bob-tailed house cat which lost its ears and tai) 10 the frost long ago. “That two cents and that 50 lw dollars is the difference between ending the year in the black or in the red,’’ he says. ‘*Mind you, end up in the red anyhow. But you can tell the banker how hard you tried.”” The Dowawind Tracker says he always worked harder and smarter than the neighbors. “*A funny thing. Thirty years Maine ¢ 100k around me and they’re all still here in business, and doing about as well as me. How iio you spose that can be?”’ argatela_ t 73% OFF ALL MARGARETA MERCHANDISE So come early, you won’t want to miss out on these great bargains! Two locations only 156 West 3rd Street in North Vancouver, 980-1605 1926 West 4th Avenue in Kitsilno, 736-9499 We are open 7 days a week. | and a slide show. Direct from New York, the Hair Co. is excited to welcome international make-up artist ENRIO Join us for an evening of color, line and form and learn the latest cosmetic secrets. Make-overs, Make-up demonstrations, color analysis March 19 7:30-10:60 pm at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel For tickets, private consultations and more information call Marilyn at 985-9101 UE