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| Britain |
| One for mucky |
| 2004-07-30 |
| Hungry sheep on the Yorkshire moors have taught themselves to roll 8ft (3m) across hoof-proof metal cattle grids - and raid villagers' valley gardens. The crafty animals have also perfected the skill of hurdling 5ft (1.5m) fences and squeezing through 8in (20cm) gaps. They have destroyed several gardens and even graze on the village park, bowling green, cricket field and graveyard. The grids were installed 10 years ago after a gardener in Marsden, near Huddersfield, held stray sheep hostage. Dorothy Lindley, an independent district councillor in the former textile town on the edge of the Pennine uplands in West Yorkshire, said: "They lie down on their side, or sometimes their back, and just roll over and over the grids until they are clear. I've seen them doing it. It is quite clever but they are a big nuisance to villagers. They eat plants, flowers and vegetables in gardens. It is soul destroying." Mrs Lindley added: "What amazes us is they are not frightened. When you try to move them on they look at you as if to say it is their patch and you are not right in the head. You can shout at them and even if they see a dog they are not frightened." |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #8 Oh, good - an excuse to post a pic, or three... at this rude humiliation of his friends, Babe, normally a debonair pig about town, springs into action... |
| Posted by: .com 2004-07-30 10:48:50 PM |
| #7 I am a native of neighboring Cumbria and spent quite a bit of time in Yorkshire as a youngster. Londoners think of this as the part of the map that was formerly left blank and inscribed "here be dragons." I remember a visiting cousin who was surprised to find automobiles and television sets in our quaint nether-world of fog and weird goings-on. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2004-07-30 9:55:00 PM |
| #6 Scaring sheep is all a matter of approach. First, take of your pants... |
| Posted by: Brutus 2004-07-30 9:37:43 PM |
| #5 Has anyone else here read Terry Brisson's sf classic Bears Discover Fire? |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2004-07-30 8:59:19 PM |
| #4 They eat plants, flowers and vegetables in gardens. It is soul destroying." hey! quit be exagragate! some peples to attacher them plants. this in good story. sheps are more smart peples are give em credit for. :) |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2004-07-30 6:21:42 PM |
| #3 even if they see a dog they are not frightened Of FooFoo barking out the back window, probably not. And not of you either, because they will engage a good solicitor and sue if you cause mental anguish of any kind. Heh. A good sheep-working border collie would have them bunched and moving back to the moors stat, though. Love to watch them work. |
| Posted by: too true 2004-07-30 8:24:12 AM |
| #2 Yorkshire has always had a reputation for feistiness ever since the Vikings founded York. No doubt in-settlers have diluted that among the humans, but it's not surprising that the sheep would cop an attitude. Especially when lured by the wonderful gardents that flourish in that cool, damp weather. Have only hiked the Yorkshire moors once, but they were lovely. And the sheep were definitely homies back then, too LOL. |
| Posted by: rkb 2004-07-30 8:15:23 AM |
| #1 Sounds like a job for... (oink) |
| Posted by: someone 2004-07-30 5:45:07 AM |
