Sheep are typically not included in the range of services we offer, but today presented an exception. We found ourselves tasked with sorting out a group of feral sheep that had been roaming the paddocks freely. The fences in this area were not designed to contain sheep; they were primarily intended for horses, ranging from simple two-wire to more complex five-wire configurations. Consequently, some sections of the land, which were not designated for animal grazing, allowed the sheep unrestricted access to forests and bush.
Although sheep are not as detrimental to vegetation as goats, they can still cause significant damage if left to themselves. This is especially true when the flock consists of both males and females.
The situation highlighted the challenges of managing livestock in areas not specifically prepared for them, underscoring the importance of appropriate fencing and land use planning to prevent such issues.
The horses were interested in us, which made the job rather interesting. We were able to hide behind them enough until we were close to the sheep. Obviously, we had to get away enough from them to not distress them with firing while not alerting the sheep of our presence.
Two down, some more to go. The rest of the flock disappeared into the bush.