Strathmore Trees Poisoned Livestock

Normally we wouldn't make a post like this but our farm has had a tragic few days and we hope this campaign will inform other livestock owners and stop this from happening to them, their animals and their families.  We have Box elder trees on our property also known as Manitoba Maple Trees or the tree with the helicopter leaves. These seeds can be highly toxic to horses, pigs, chickens and Cows! We had no idea and I have yet to find anyone that did.   Saturday (Dec 1, 2017) all 5 of the horses on our property were acting differently and not feeling well.  The Oldest was trembling, The Youngest had a green river nasel discharge and another had what appeared to be some form of Colic.  We called in Dr. Becky Bezugley from The Animal Care Centre of Strathmore, and with great diligence she tried to sort out what was happening.  1 horse down ok it happens, 2? 3? She left patients at the clinic and rushed over. After a few blood tests and some experts weighing in on the situation we discovered the cause was a toxin they had ingested.   Kaycee, a 22 year old Quarter Horse was the first to go down.  Her desire to be on her feet was great but her body couldn`t hold her up.  As she fell to the ground we tried to soften her fall with a hay bale.  She was struggling and it was heart wrenching, I layed on her trying to stop her from getting up but she was suffering.  Her Struggles continued and we had to put her down.   There was no time to process our sadness as the young Mustang was quickly deteriorating and needed care.  Dr. Becky returned with more information, the toxin was discovered to be the Box Elder seeds that had fallen from the trees where they were grazing.  She continue with a quiver in her lip. `there is no antidote for this toxin and as little as 165 seeds can cause toxicity in a horse.  Working against the odds we cared for our horses. Jude passed with his head on my lap at 3:47am.  The moon was full, the stars bright and our hearts broken! Mckera was the next to pass with help from the vet at 12:30 am the next night. I layed on her 700lb body helplessly sobbing until my husband pulled me away.  Breaking the news to my little girl that her therapy horse, her friend, the horse that she shared with her Grandad passed in the night was sureal.  She layed on the carpet and wept for hours so sad. It took the strength of 1000 men to go into the paddocks to care for the other two.  Tuesday we lost Jax, an amazingly beautiful young horse who tried to show us he was ok until he wasn`t.  We held him as he passed away as there was no time for the Vet to come.  The Gray as we called him was owned by our teneant.  Both Jude and Jax were guests in the Pasture, loved like our own but missed by us all.  From Saturday-Tuesday we lost 4 of our 5 horses. Im the new Pasture for 3 days, they ingested the seeds got sick and died! The 5th horse Bud, is still in recovery mode.  He seems to be Bud again but  It will take him a few months to recover. Hopefully there is no internal long lasting damage. He is deffinately sad and clearly spoiled now but is in fact the last horse standing.  Since this nightmare started we have seen these same trees all over the place and on properties where horses and other large livestock are grazing. The toxicity of these seeds is greatly affected by environmental conditions and our current weather, or the chañge of Weather including the Chinooks and warm weather thawing pastures. Please share this with anyone you know who has large livestock and in particular horses so they may be aware of the the risk associated with these trees and they will have time to move their animals away. These seeds only come out in late fall early winter so we are in prime time for dangerous Toxin levels. Google search BOX ELDER TOXIN for complete details on these seeds. We tried to save them. Round the clock care, vets and specialist were called in and we still lost 4 of them. Our property was home to our Kaycee, our daughters therapy horse Mckera, Our tenants 2 horses Jude and Jax.  And a horse named Bud owned by a Sundre man who is sad for our loss but blessed to have the only one left standing. The options to move forward are minimal because of the devistation and now the debt. Please help us pay for both Dr. Becky from The Strathmore Animal Hospital and Greg from Just Passing who shared our heartache and helped to honor our Majestic Heard by the quick removal of their bodies.  Our desire to provide a safer pasture for the future and to educate others on this new threat right here in Alberta is a priority.  No one knew of this problem in Alberta!  The milder winters, should be a blessing for horse owners, but for us we are learning how to move forward after such a devistating experience.   Thank you for reading our story and for the compassion you felt about the heartache on our farm.  We have also lost 3 pot belly pigs and over 30 chickens to this challenge. Please share this information. The tree is the tree in your yard.  The one that has a leaf that falls like a helicopter blade. The beautiful tree full of branches.  Please Save a livestock by sharing this story.