A weeks-old calf has been given a second chance at life after surviving the massive wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, thanks to the compassion of a North Texas rancher.
Several wildfires spread through the region earlier this month, scorching more than a million acres, claiming the lives of two people, and killing thousands of cattle, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Garret Duvall, a North Texas rancher whose friends and family were affected by the fires, told CBS News that he drove up to the area to aid in relief efforts and distribute supplies to affected locals. While doing so, he discovered a small calf that was injured by the flames but still alive.
“She was about 2 ½ weeks old when we got her, and she was standing next to her mother, who was just completely burned and not alive,” said Duvall, per CBS. “I knew I had to help her.”
Duvall said that the calf had sustained “extensive burning” on her back leg and near her nose, and her tail had been mostly burned away.
“She is a fighter for sure. She could have just laid down, but she is giving it her all,” said Duvall, per CBS.
Duvall took the calf and began to nurse her back to health. He named her Ashley, nicknaming her “Ash,” which he said was fitting, given her circumstances. He said he plans to bring the calf back to his North Texas ranch.
“She is learning to trust, and we are just becoming little best friends I guess. I have raised a lot of bottle calves and raised a lot of animals. But, I never, ever thought I would fall in love like this with a little baby,” said Duvall, per CBS.
Rancher Navy, an agricultural service founded to support state farms and ranches in the wake of disaster, is still seeking community support to aid those affected by the fires. The organization said in a social media post that they had visited the panhandle, noting that it would be a “long recovery” for the area as relief efforts continue.