I’m always interested with the feedback I get from some of my columns. Recently I had a column I submitted to the paper concerning bailing hooks, items used in baling hay.
One person thought I had a typographical error and thought I should have talked about baling hooks rather than bailing hooks. While the hook is used in baling hay, the procedure is to bail the hay bale from the hay baler with the bailing hook. Or at least, that is how my father explained it to me.
Another person (Gary Green of Cicero) pointed out that I forgot to mention the occasional snakes coming out of the bales of hay. He said black snakes and occasionally rat snakes were surprise visitors every year when he baled hay. What was worse, he said, was finding a piece of one – sort of like finding one half of a worm in your apple.
We also had the blue racer snakes on our farm. One time I was walking up the farm lane from the hay field and stumbled across a blue racer. It began going the same direction I was going, and I was sure it was trying to attack me. I ran like the wind to escape. He likely was more scared than I was and was probably just moving forward in his natural direction. I did not know that at the time and could have set a track record for the 200-yard dash.
Another person mentioned the occasional baby rabbit, fledgling killdeer or young quail that would be caught in the baling machine as it picked up the windrow of hay. Typically, the mowing down of the hay had disturbed all the animals living in the hayfield. Mowing occurred a day or two before the baling happened. Animals often then had regathered and hidden in the hay windrows or hid there when they heard the machines coming. Bumblebee ground nests were another story. I don’t recall them ever in bale of hay, but I do recall being stung as the nest was disturbed.
More often, animals merely ran away or played in the area. Foxes were frequently seen chasing the mice that had been stirred up. They never seem to be bothered as long as the machines were moving but would run away when the machine stopped. Quail, pheasants and rabbits were also a common sight.
Educational material and not legal advice, written by the team at Adler attorneys. Email andrea@noblesvilleattorney.com with questions or comments.