Season of struggle

The toughest winter in a while might have been easier on Crook County's ranchers if it hadn't come on the heels of several years of drought.

"Cold and snow is a problematic thing, whether you're talking for calving or just wintering cattle and yearlings," says Wade Crawford of Crook County Veterinary Service.

"You end up having to feed more hay, which was in limited supply last year."

Two to three years of dry weather meant that nobody had much extra feed for their animals, he says.

"What we deal with is people trying to be creative in their feed selection. Some people over by Moorcroft and ot...