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March 29, 2024 4:43 am
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Rural Rants

By Mike Donahue

Summer appeared in Southern Nevada just two short weeks ago with an intensity that surprised a lot of Silver State residents whether they live in cities or rural areas.

After the one of the coolest Mays on record, June blasted in like an incendiary with a brief 110 degree heat wave early on, followed by sweltering days leading up to June 21, the summer solstice – the longest day of the year.

We all know (or at least suspect) Mojave Desert summers are exceedingly hot and stressful. Our gardens, our trees, our lawns, all vegetation suffers from the heat despite the fact that our part of the world has a summer monsoon season, believe it or not. In the monsoon we are often subject to violent though many times brief thunderstorms. Temperatures can drop 20 degrees in minutes.

Nevertheless, it’s the heat that makes Southern Nevada summers memorable and, for most of us, exceedingly uncomfortable. A Moapa Valley farmer whose name I won’t use except to say it rhymes with Glen Hardy, once told me he had just about everything he ever wanted the day he purchased his first tractor with a cab that was equipped with air conditioning. Being able to disc, bale hay or whatever, while staying cool changed the whole complexion of his farming operation, not to mention his own complexion.

It’s great when you can get out of the sun and still get the job done. Like Glen – or rather the farmer whose name sounds like Glen — whether we live in Las Vegas or Moapa or Overton or wherever, the ability to get out of the heat and into air conditioning in the summer has made our lives easier, less stressful and a whole lot more comfortable.

Part of rural living is the luxury of being able to raise animals, whether it’s chickens for eggs or the stewpot, beef, pork or lamb for the freezer, or dogs, cats or horses for their companionship. There’s even a place for goats in our neck of the woods, despite my not knowing exactly where that place might possibly be. (Other than across the street at my neighbor’s place.)

Anyway, summer heat is especially hard on animals. Imagine being forced to wear a wool coat when it’s 115 degrees in the shade.

Unfortunately for most of us, we’re unable to provide our stock, or pets, or other animals like llamas or even goats, with air conditioning. There are some things we can do, however, to make their summertime existence easier.

Those of us who raise livestock know the importance of providing our animals with clean fresh water. The merciless heat of the sun can be greatly lessened with a drink of water.

Cattle, sheep and horses all need a lot of moisture during the summer.

Most chicken owners who see flock members strutting around panting through open beaks know the heat’s getting to the birds and it’s important they be able to sip some water. For those who don’t know, chickens don’t sweat but pant like dogs to cool off.

Pigs, too, don’t sweat. They use cool mud baths to lower their temperatures.

Never, EVER, leave your dog or cat in the car in summer. Pets left in cars can have a stroke or suffer brain damage, heat exhaustion or quickly die in the incredible temperatures inside autos or trucks.

To belabor the obvious, “Rural Rants” is a column about rural living and the people who live here. Because it’s a column and not a news story, it’s written subjectively, with personal observations. It appears the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Your comments and input are important and will be appreciated. Contact me via email at mouse@mvdsl.com.

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