Fireworks and sheep

Just read a horrible story about a firework hitting a horse and as a result it's going to lose it's eye (best case scenario) or have to be put to sleep.

It's been reported to the police, and as I said in a pp, it's actually an offence to set off fireworks near livestock. I doubt anything will happen to the person doing it though. Hopefully the horse is insured and the insurance company will pay for treatment and maybe they'd have a way to get at least the cost of the treatment out of the idiot setting them off, over a horses field, close enough for the horse to be hit. In the face.

All in the name of 'fun'.

2020 we were in the Lake District, is the worse thunder storm I've seen it went on for hours and lighting every minute or 2.
For ages after it you could here the sheep baaing I felt so sorry for them

The problem is that people seem to be getting hold of display type fireworks and letting them off in their back garden. We had a 2 or 3 instances last weekend when it was like a bomb going off. Not surprised that local wildlife or freaking out or dying.

I love owls and this is really upsetting for me.

Weirdly I have had one dog and one cat that were non plussed re fireworks but hated thunder and lightning.

I think it depends on how used to human contact and how busy the area they live in. We had a few fireworks fairly close to our own sheep and poultry. Nothing was bothered by it but they knew we were there.

Yes my friend who runs a rescue had this happen. It was a barn owl she had rehabilitated but chose to stay in a tree on her land that was killed. So sad.

The Owls near me were terrified over Bonfire night (if only it was 1 night) calling and behaving very out of character.

Firstly weather is quite different as they get used to this from birth and so it’s more natural for them. They can sense when a storm is coming and they understand it - whereas fireworks come out of nowhere and are louder.
Also, only recently I experienced a horse really panicking during a thunderstorm (when there was lots of lightning) so it does happen. Her stable is right outside my bedroom window so I was able to get up to calm/check her at 3am but she was really frightened.

It's worth saying that often animals are often targeted too.
People will deliberately set them off near sanctuaries etc, throw them near wildlife to see what they do

Some of the publicised articles about animals dying from stress have been about either really big displays or people seeking to harm animals

I hope sheep are ok because some sheep may be in lamb already.

I hate them so much

My poor dog is now in the regular post Halloween/Diwali/bonfire period where due to endless fireworks both organised displays and garden displays plus kids setting off rockets randomly he is so anxious he shakes even for walks in the daytime.

The other year my neighbour had a massive evening display they didn’t warn us about but even worse we were taking ddog for a short daytime walk and the neighbour had a ‘practice run’ in broad daylight right next to the road and set one off as we were passing- about two metres from dog’s head. Took him days to even eat again.

I would beg ever surprised if wild animals are not affected by them. Humans are just selfish

As with dogs and people some are scared by them and others aren't. Our horses and sheep aren't bothered because they are in a field near quite a prestigious wedding venue where fireworks happen from time to time all year plus there is a bird banger that makes me jump every time it goes off. They also, until recently had a clay pigeon range a field away. Again I got more of a fright from the bangs than them. Obviously others have a different experience and there are some very sad stories! Edinburgh zoo has put the loss of their red panda cub down to firework stress, which is awfully sad!

I knew a barn owl who died of fright because some person lacking in com!on sense and consideration decided to chuck a firework up it's tree.

We were worried about my parents' cows and sheep this year as they hosted a huge bonfire party, but they were fine! Think they totally ignored the fireworks.
Horses are a different matter, but horses think crisp packets are scary...

Depends. There is a difference in the noise and intensity. Horse wise for example thunder tends to be rolling with breaks so they spook, calm, spook etc. fireworks can come as a barage with little breaks so once the animal spooks, it doesn't recover between so they set off running and continue because the noise doesn't calm

Thunder is rumbling, near by fire works is not. My dogs aren't scared of fireworks particularly or thunder. We can happenly walk them when there's shooting in the distance but recently a neighbour had a massive firework display that massively rattled them

I saw this too
My best friend works in a livery and they are a complete nightmare.

Some animals don't mind but lots of animals are rightly adapted/evolved to be terrified of gunshot type noises

Also depends on distance. Some are completely fine with them in the distance, but if it's in the field next door it's insane. It's often louder,longer and more intense than thunder

The pheasant shoots round here are louder than the fireworks. Don't know if the sheep are scared but if they are I guess the estate owners don't care.

What do they do during a storm with thunder and lightening then?

Read this today - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj6k9wg03e8o