Ranchers losing livestock to Oklahoma's wildfires

Dozens - if not hundreds - of animals have been lost in the state's wildfires. Now, those that survived the flames are in a lot of trouble. <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor Terry Hood says those that have

Thursday, January 5th 2006, 3:12 pm

By: News On 6

Dozens - if not hundreds - of animals have been lost in the state's wildfires. Now, those that survived the flames are in a lot of trouble.

News on 6 anchor Terry Hood says those that have survived are a mounting task for Oklahomaâ€™s veterinarians. It's a problem border to border. Ranchers across the state have lost livestock. Now, the survivors have big medical problems.

Doctor Paul Bynum has a clinic in Beggs, but he's made "corral" calls as far south as Checotah. Ranchers here lost 28 head of cattle in the wildfires.

Doctor Bynum kept some of the herd at his clinic to treat them for smoke inhalation. Even two weeks after the fire, some still died. Those that suffered burns still could. "They don't have any hair left on them and they can't fight the cold, and it takes twice as much hay and feed just to keep them going. And they're just in a lot of pain."

The fire that injured the herd being treated by Dr Bynum happened the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but the wildfires haven't let up since.