Woman ‘Asks Nicely’ to Pet Calf but Mama Cow Is Not Having It
A woman learned not to mess with a mama cow the hard way, in a video that's gone viral online. The poor woman just wanted to say hi to the cow's baby, but the adult cow wasn't really feeling it and let it be known.
The woman, who goes by @cholemarie4 online, wanted to say hello to her two cows and their babies. But things sort of went amiss.
Nicole also wanted to tag the little guys, but the cow mamas had vastly different reactions to her coming close. First she greeted mom Kathy and her little one and it went perfectly smooth. But then it was time to say hello to Esther and her baby. And let's just say that Esther was...less than inviting.
Related: Baby Cow's Reaction to Finally Finding Her Mama Is Simply Heartwarming
The cow mama immediately backed away and started hissing at Nicole.
"Can I go touch it?" she asked, referring to the calf in the corner. "Please? I asked nicely. Can I come in?"
But Esther wasn't ready to share. "That's a no. Okay!" Nicole joked.
People online agreed that giving Esther and her baby some space was probably for the best. "Did the cow just hiss at you?" one person asked. "That wasn't a no, that was a hell no," a second commenter added. "Esther said you can try to touch it but I wouldn’t recommend it," teased one commenter. "Esther's like 'yeah go ahead…. It’ll be the last thing you do but sure… touch it,'" kidded one person.
Cow Gestation Period
Poor Esther was not ready to let anyone near her baby. And we get it, she carried that baby for a long time and has been protecting it ever since. Cow gestation can last an average of 283 days — slightly longer than humans. There are some factors that can change this time frame, like breed or the sex of the calf.
Another important factor is age. Older cows tend to give birth ten days after that time frame and smaller and younger cows might give birth ten days sooner.
Some cow moms, like Esther, can be very protective of their babies. And that comes with age and wisdom. Most first time moms don't necessarily know that they are expected to watch over their calves and might even walk away from their baby not realizing that it's their child.
Once a cow has had a few babies, they'll understand that they'll have to defend their babies from coyotes, big cats, and other predators. Hence why Esther was not the most welcoming host.
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