Brighter View Farm TN

They do actually graze and play, but they also enjoy the great napping places. I love that they are snoozing down there at the creek where they have nice shade and the breeze is cool. When I walk down they look at me like I’ve interrupted them, but not enough of an interruption to move, even if they are snoozing in the middle of the path. It’s their kingdom. They just let us visit it 🥰

A little barn humor mixed with pictures of how smart these guys can be. These last few days have been cooler, but they have been finding all the good shade spots and cool napping spots. One of my favorite spots on the property is the wide creek bed with the tree canopy and apparently the horses are enjoying it frequently now too. Tree lines, shelters and even the barn also make the list of favorite shade and nap locations.

Star makes wise decisions. While everyone else was napping in the sun, Star was comfortably tucked into the cool shade along the creek bank. It’s one of my favorite areas at the barn and I wonder why they don’t hang out there more often. All the rain has added some color in places around the barn, too. All the bush hogging I did before the rains needs to be redone now, but that’s a good problem to have. Much better than continued drought.

💜 The cutest new barn assistant is on temporary assignment. Foster kitten Kazoo is a bottle fed baby from McKamey. What she lacks in productivity she makes up for in cuteness! 💜

Lots of rain broken up by clouds and sun. The horses have sought shade and shelter in a variety of places. ❤️🌧️🌤️☀️❤️

There have been reports of black bear sightings in the area of the barn. Here is a really helpful post from a local wildlife rehabber with tips on how to
decrease the chance of feeding the bears, even inadvertently, as that puts them more at risk.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KoJhEzaBW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We’ve received calls about two separate black bears in the Chattanooga area in the last two days. Yay! Just like the Smokies to our north, Southeast Tennessee is normal, natural habitat for black bears. While they went unseen here for decades, they’re slowly reclaiming their native range. Their presence in Hamilton County is, itself, no more of an emergency than the presence of a squirrel or a hawk.

The first call we got was yesterday, when a yearling, who was mistaken by the caller for an unweaned cub, crossed the road at the busy 24/75 interchange and got a little freaked out and stayed in the median for a while. The bear eventually crossed the road successfully and has been spotted all day making his way away from the busy parts of the city: first East Brainerd, then Ooltewah, and now Athens. This is exactly what a bear is supposed to do. Good bear!

The other yearling spent the whole day in a tree in Cleveland, TN. We stopped by to check on it since we were in the area anyway. It, too, was doing exactly what bears are supposed to do. Just hanging out in a tree being a bear. Cool. TWRA and Bradley County Sheriff’s Office stopped by and kept an eye on it to make sure nobody did anything stupid, like, y’know, climbing up the tree to pet the bear. (Anyone who’s worked in the Smokies can tell you that people do, in fact, do things like that.)

So what can we all do to help these bears? For the love of all things holy, don’t feed them! If they start eating handouts from people, that will be the very end of their story because they will end up euthanized. That means that you need to feed your pets indoors, take down your bird feeders, and keep your trash secured. Even if the feeding is incidental, it will contribute to the demise of these beautiful animals.

If you do spot a bear that is actually injured or posing an immediate danger to humans— and please be aware that simply existing does not mean danger— please call TWRA dispatch at (800) 831-1174 or call 911.

Let’s all work together for the sake of our most treasured native wildlife!

Brighter View has a visitor today. Girly Pop is from . She has been struggling with shelter life so she’s having a day out at the barn. Look at those eyes! She’s sweet, curios and enjoys some attention. She’s looking for a foster home (or a forever home!) so if you are in the Chattanooga area and also want to spend some time with this beautiful baby, contact

Barn babies, but not the typical kind that get posted. ❤️😊🐣

How you know it’s fly season and also how you know who is the uncooperative mare…
For all the non-horse people, horses wearing fly masks does not mean the horse is blind. They are wearing to keep the annoying flies out of their eyes instead. And yes, they can see through them without problem.