Dog walkers have been warned to keep their pets on a lead after a recent spate of attacks on sheep at a nature reserve on the Gwent Levels. Three pregnant ewes - some of which were expecting twins - were chased by animals running loose at Great Traston Meadows until they died from stress and shock.
A further pregnant ewe also sustained serious injuries in a similar incident at the same beauty spot, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Nash, near Newport. And it's prompted a leading wildlife conservation charity to stress that people keep a closer eye on their pets whilst out and about.
“Of course we want to encourage people to enjoy the wildlife and green space on our reserves and we do allow visitors to bring dogs onto most of our sites," said Gemma Bodé, Head of Nature Recovery at Gwent Wildlife Trust. "However, we do expect all dogs to be under close control in order to protect wildlife and other visitors to the area.
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"And it is an absolute requirement when livestock, including sheep and cattle, are present that dogs are kept on a lead at all times.
"This is especially important in the case of sheep because they are so vulnerable, especially when pregnant. Many dogs instinctively want to chase sheep and, even if they do not physically attack them, it can traumatise a sheep so much that they die of shock or abort their lambs.
"Sadly, this has been the case recently at Great Traston Meadows."
The dog attacks have occurred over the last few weeks at the meadows, which are managed by GWT and grazed by sheep owned by a local famer during the winter months. This, in turn, helps to manage the meadows in order to benefit wildlife in the spring and summer.
Gemma added: "Our graziers are so important to us and the work we do in managing our nature reserves for wildlife. We have a duty to support them and protect them from the financial cost and trauma caused by dogs worrying and killing their stock."
The Trust added that they will be putting further signage on the reserve at Great Traston reminding dog owners about their legal obligations to keep their dogs under control. They also say they will not hesitate to prosecute the owners of dogs who disobey the rules and put wildlife, livestock and other people’s lives at risk.
