The Spirit Tree Inc.

05/31/2026

They are really enjoying their new beds! 😆 Guess I will head out now and clean them up before someone gets a stomach blockage.

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

One of the most important lessons when working around potentially dangerous animals is to respect them for what they are, not for what we wish they were.

That means understanding their nature and always staying aware of what they are capable of.

For example, I never turn my back on MoMo, our water buffalo. I never sit on the ground around him, and I can’t have other animals loose when he is out. In the past, he has shown me that he may try to injure other animals. That doesn’t make him bad—it just means I have to respect who he is.

With my wolfdogs, I don’t try to physically force things on them. I don’t restrain them for nail trims or grooming, I don’t take toys away from them, and I don’t step into disagreements between them. Instead, I work within the boundaries of what is safe and fair for everyone involved.

The same is true with my pigs. Except for Rodney and Vinnie, I cannot sit on the ground with them because the others may view me as vulnerable and could attack. If the pigs are frightened, excited, or angry at another animal—or even at each other—they may redirect that energy toward me. That includes Rodney, despite our bond.

It’s important to see animals as they truly are and not through a romanticized lens. Doing so can get you hurt—or worse.

These animals are not mean. They are not bad. They are simply being what nature designed them to be. The responsibility falls on us to understand them, respect their instincts, and manage our interactions accordingly.

Loving animals doesn’t mean pretending they are something they’re not. Real respect means accepting them exactly as they are.

05/29/2026

I set up the camera while I was waiting on the vet yesterday because I knew Rodney would find me.
He is so companionable when he has trust in someone.

05/29/2026

I love watching animal behaviors.
I was sitting on the opposite side of the pond, and Rodney was looking for me.
A pig's sense of smell is better than its eyesight.
Think about a pig moving through dense Florida palmettos at dawn or dusk. Visibility is poor, but scent travels through the air and lets them know if a panther or bear is in the area.
A wild pig can:
* Detect predators long before seeing them.
* Follow the scent trail of other pigs.
* Locate food hidden underground.
I loved watching him air scent for me. He gets nervous when he gets too far away from the barn.
I did call him, and he made his way around the pond to me.

05/28/2026

Dr Betsy came out today for Moon Drop & Jubilees exam and vaccines.
They both got excellent reports.

05/28/2026

Photobombed by a water buffalo!

05/28/2026

Watching back over the video I realize I should have been using Mojags name . They understand who I’m calling but don’t always respect it.😆

05/28/2026

I’m so weird.. I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed this magnificent Great Blue Heron in a successful hunt that will sustain him but also sad to witness the lingering suffering of the catfish. Such is the cycle of life.

05/28/2026