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05 November 2009
Attacks on sheep in Northamptonshire
In recent weeks there has been a spate of serious attacks on sheep by unruly dogs at Wildlife Trust reserves in Northamptonshire.
Just last Thursday (29th October 2009) five sheep were targeted in one incident at Ditchford Lakes and Meadows.
One of the flock of Hebridean & Manx Loghtan sheep died from its injuries.
Another was left with very bad bites to its neck and two sheep have bites to their back legs. They are currently being nursed back to health but it is unclear whether one will survive.
The rest of the flock, who were on site at the time, are described as being very stressed and unsettled. A number were chased into the lake.
A man was seen exercising two lurchers at Ditchford on Thursday evening. The Wildlife Trust is seeking more information and would like to speak to this man in connection with this incident.
This incident is unfortunately not an exceptional case; attacks on sheep at nature reserves have occurred at Old Sulehay Nature Reserve, Twywell Hills and Dales Nature Reserve and Bradlaugh Scrub Field Local Nature Reserve.
Jane Pearman, reserves manager for Northamptonshire, said:
“The number of attacks on grazing sheep is very alarming. We welcome visitors to our reserves, and well-behaved dogs on leads, as long as they act responsibly.
“'Dog attacks on sheep are a very horrific and stressful thing to have to come across. The flock were dispersed across the meadow. Two were huddled under a tree by the lake clearly terrified and one had horrific bites on its neck. Two more sheep had open wounds on their back legs, one of which was about four inches long. At the opposite end of the field there was a dead sheep which had clearly bled to death from injuries on its neck and horrendous bites on its back legs. The fact that the sheep were spread across the meadow indicates that the attack took place over a considerable length of time.”
The Wildlife Trust has successfully prosecuted owners who have allowed their dogs to worry sheep. We will seek prosecution for other dog owners whose animals are caught acting irresponsibly around livestock.Notes:
There are currently 42 sheep and 12 cows on the site of Ditchford Lakes and Meadows, near Rushden, where the latest sheep attacks took place.
Ditchford Lakes and Meadows- is owned by East Northamptonshire Council and managed by the Wildlife Trust
The Wildlife Trust uses different rare breeds of sheep on our nature reserves in Northamptonshire to carry out conservation grazing to keep our nature reserves in good ecological condition, enhance biodiversity and minimise scrub invasion.
About the Trust:
Bringing people together to take action for wildlife is the Trust’s mission. We manage 129 nature reserves - all of them free to visit – and 95% of the population live within five miles of one of our reserves. We are working to make these wildlife havens bigger, better and more joined-up – vital to help wildlife to adapt to a changing climate. By gathering valuable information about wildlife and working with other landowners the Trust also monitors and safeguards wildlife beyond the boundary of its reserves.
For more information see www.wildlifebcnp.org
Media contacts
Bernadette Mooney, Communications Officer, 01954 713552 or email bernadette.mooney@wildlifebcnp.org
Jo Fowler, Communications Manager, 01954 713551 or email jo.fowler@wildlifebcnp.org