[Dans]

Hi

Went for a forage with OH today and found a dead sheep on the path. Been there a little while, still some skin on the legs, but ribcage exposed. Couldn't see an ear tag (although couldn't see an ear). Does it need to be reported anywhere? It seemed quite old, quite a few teeth. Not sure what could have gotten it or if it had been dumped?

Dans

[Fleecewife]

Mm - don't know about that.  No-one is going to want to claim responsibility in case they have to foot the bill for disposal of the carcase.  It sounds as if it has been dumped, but 'why' is the question - there is quite a lot of sheep stealing still, and people taking and killing a single animal to eat, or far worse just for kicks.  It might have been a large dog I suppose, which had dragged it there - were there living sheep nearby?
 
You could report it to the police, then it's up to them to contact the appropriate authority - which would probably be Animal Health, or the knackers (Grayshill)

[Dans]

Thanks,

had no idea who to call. Called the LBP, and they said they'll pass it on to the council. We did continue walking with a bit of caution, a little concerned about what had taken the sheep down! Was a very large sheep. Gave the OH a fright as he rounded the corner and just saw a very large rib cage on the ground before noticing the legs and cloven feet!

There were cattle in a separate field  a fair ways down the track but no sign of any sheep grazing recently anywhere near.

I guess it shall remain a puzzle. Not sure how they'll uplift it though as you can't get a car down that track...

Dans

[Fleecewife]

Maybe it was the ghost of gibbets past   

[Crofterloon]

There was a thing in either the Farmers Guardian or the scottish farmer about people deposing of dead carasses this way, cutting of the ear tags and throwing dead or dying animals down the banking.
I wonder if this is another case?

[Dans]

Well just had a call from the local police trying to work out whose farm it might belong to. Doesn't seem to be a much traversed path (which is good for me as I think it shall be supplying me with elderberry wine later in the year, and has just supplied me with elderflower for a wine and some fritters!). Did see a dog walker closer to the entrance, and it wouldn't be good if a dog came across it. I have to admit I thought it may have been dumped as I can't think what would have taken it down like that. It might have had a tag on the side of the head that was on the ground, or a tag on the ground from a half eaten ear, but I wasn't curious enough to poke, plus it had quite the stench!

Dans

[omnipeasant]

While it might have been dumped, it is just as likely that it had strayed, died and the tag/ear taken by crows etc. If one of ours has died it doesn't take long before you cant find an eartag. We always try to identify any of our demised ewes and it is frustrating if the tag has been chewed off. Birds will take an ear complete with tag and fly off with it because it is an easy part to remove.

[Dans]

Well just got a call from the police, apparently they've found the farmer and the sheep has been removed. Didn't say how they found the farmer though.

Dans

[Penninehillbilly]

Anyway, well done for reporting it, best to get these things shifted instead of leaving them round for someone/something else to sort out.
did it have any fleece left with any marking on?
 
We once reported 2 dead dogs to the council, looked like they'd been throw down a banking, (already rotting, you could smell them from the track), council decided to leave them there, cost too much to get a specialist in to remove them!

[Dans]

Some fleece had been dragged away, but couldn't see and marking, it was also on its back.

That's awful of your council, and possibly illegal. Pet animals can have so many chemicals pumped into them that it can be bad for the environment to leave them to decompose, especially near watercourses. There's a whole bunch of regs on their disposal.

Dans