The Brief
- Florida cowboys used horses and a jon boat to rescue stranded cattle as rising waters from the Peace River inundated pastures across DeSoto and Hardee counties.
- Cowboys answered around 20 emergency calls to herd livestock to dry orange groves and pull animals from deep mud.
- The cowboys continue keeping an eye on livestock while keeping up with their daily ranch operations.
ARCADIA, Fla. – Rising floodwaters along the Peace River triggered cowboys to jump into action for livestock rescues across Southwest Florida.
Peace River cattle rescue
Big picture view:
Ranchers, farmers and equestrian workers joined forces across DeSoto and Hardee counties after the Peace River spilled over its banks. The crew answered around 20 calls for help, steering some herds to high ground in an orange grove and hauling other cattle out of deeply flooded terrain with a jon boat.
Pete Brewer, one of the cattlemen on the water, said stranded cows had water up to their necks on shrinking mounds. The team stepped in because livestock owners had little time to react when the river surged.
Florida ranching history
The backstory:…