sorta stupid but real fear....lightning

[Sara K]

I live on the side of a mountain in NH. We have many thunderstorms every summer....often striking trees within feet of the house. I paid dearly for a Jersey and her calf and have heard that death due to lightening strike can sometimes be a real threat.

I have some trees in the (soon to be - no actual grass yet) pasture area and a 8x12 shed that the cow and calf have access to. The building has a metal roof although we are not sure if it needs to be grounded. We have only electric fencing but rarely turn it on since they stay in with it off

I developed a real fear of lightening during my 3rd pregnancy when 7+ trees within spitting distance of the house were hit within an hour. Naturally this concern carries over to the animals :-)

Is there anything we can do to protect our cows or lower our risk - am I being silly to even worry about this?

Thank you,
Sara

[Cliff]

Not silly at all. When I was a kid 7 of dad's cows were killed standing under one tree. Haven't personally seen it happen since but you do hear of it happening.
I'd ground the metal roof just out of fear the building would burn if struck.
Big question, do you have a lightening rod on your house?

If it were me I'd consider moving. Since I had lightening zip through my house once (in one window, out another on the opposite side) I've been fairly nervous of it.

[Sara K]

Your "big question". Is more of a loaded question at my house LOL. We. Are 100% off grid and I made DH take the the windmill down a couple years ago becuase it was mounted on the roof and I was scared it would get the house struck. Funny thing is......lightening has been WORSE since he took it down (7 years up 2 down) I'm not sure if the grounding for the windmill is still up on the house but you can bet I'm checking before tomorrows storms hit.

So if the shelter is safer do they know that? Or would they naturally choose a tree over the building?

Sara

[okiemom]

WE had a lightning strike near/on our fence. It fried our fencer, blew out GFCI's, A automatic window opener in our coupala, but none of the other electrical devices were damaged.

The flash bang was impressive. I understand your concern. The mountains of colorado are no fun in a storm. The plains of OK are also no fun unless you are in a house or car. Then I love a good storm. I just don't want to be out in it.

[Cliff]

I think they just choose whatever shelter is closer at the time really. Often they don't even go to shelter in a storm.

[Jennifer L.]

My neighbor lost his whole herd to a lightening strike, so it's not the least bit stupid. I lost one along a fence line, once, and another that was under utility wires a different time.

It's not likely it will happen, but it's sure not impossible.

Jennifer

[Sara K]

Oh boy so now I will spend all storms worried LOL.

Any suggestions to lower the risk?

Sara

[Cliff]

Maybe lock the cow in the barn when storms are coming?
Aside from moving off the hot spot probably about all you can do.