Fireworks and sheep

[FinallySleep]

We have a new pup in the house who is terrified of fireworks, which led to a family conversation last night in which either DH or DC (I think DH) expressed concern that if domestic pets are scared of fireworks, maybe other animals are too!

This then got us imagining all the squirrels and rabbits and deer in the local woods cowering in fright, and the sheep, horses and cows at the farm, frozen in fear!

So does anyone know if cattle and wild animals are scared of fireworks? This has just made me feel really sad! I don't like to think of the local.woods or farm as full of terrified little bundles of fluff!

Yes they are terrified I have an organised village hall display right next door to my sheep and horse, they know they are serious putting them into immense distress every year and possibility of causing death or harm to them, they think this is perfectly OK as long as they send a letter like where am I supposed to take them and who pays for all that. They are breaking the law but no one inc police give a shit its disgusting, I note that none of the organisers bring their dogs 😡😡😡

Our cows aren't bothered by them at all. It probably depends on what happens all year round - e.g. in an area where bird scarers are regularly used then they would be used to loud noises

Horses often are.
Fireworks have got completely out of hand when compared to the backyard bonfire nights and local displays of my childhood in the 70s/80s. They are so much louder , more powerful and go on for weeks.

Years ago, I went to a firework party in the garden of a private house. Apparently a neighbour bred birds in an aviary in his garden and found most of them dead the following morning. It had never occurred to me. And really made me question the use of fireworks.

Yes, at least in the case of horses it can cause a real problem, I've known of some run through fencing because of fireworks. It's illegal to set them off where it might cause livestock distress, but it's not policed, so it happens.

As pp says it depends on the area and what the animals are used to as well, local shoots and bird scarers would desensitise them to some degree.

But I've seen the carnage that a spooked herd of bullocks can cause, not spooked by fireworks but by several off lead dogs on a 'play date' that went chasing, dogs are lucky they ran away and didn't chase back, but they went through their electrified wire fence and bulldozed the hedge behind that and a lot of local residents got their gardens remodelled, some of the animals were injured, luckily no people were and it must have caused thousands in damage.

Not just the noise either, stray fireworks can land on barn/stables rooves and cause fires, and again although not a firework but a sky lantern, there's a fairly famous story about a horse who's rug caught fire when one of them landed in the field and had severe burns. I'm sure fireworks have caused similar issues.

But people are very protective over setting off fireworks, and you get the argument about tradition and fun, and it only being one night a year, when we all know it's not. And don't really give a shit about the harm caused.

Many horses are terrified of fireworks and every year there are sadly many horses that have to be put down due to resulting stress or injuries. People often don’t let neighbours with horses know they’re going to let them off, giving owners no time to prepare. Even when they do warn owners, there’s nothing that can really be done - it’s not like you can easily move a large number of horses and there’s no guarantee that fireworks won’t be let off near them if they’re moved elsewhere. The choice is between stabling them or leaving them out in the field, both can result in injuries so owners have to know their horse and make their best guess.

Last week there were three different displays going on at once within sight of my horse, and another one really close last night. Luckily after an initial few minutes of stress the horses settled and all are ok but we were not warned about any of the displays. I also rent a flat on site so I am here to keep an eye on them, most owners don’t have that luxury either.

I have personally seen a horse have to be put down as a result of fireworks - while galloping around in a panic he slipped and broke his back, it was horrible.
This case this year was also really sad: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/firefighters-urge-public-to-think-after-horse-terrified-fireworks-put-down-877022

I love fireworks and understand why people want them but feel they should be mostly restricted to professional displays - otherwise the only ones available to the public should be silent ones and only sold in the first week of November.

Fireworks scare all animals...... humans are so entitled, most couldn't give a shit about other species dying of shock or having serious injuries from running away, just as long as their snotty little brats are happy. Please, I urge everyone to sign this petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700013

I know exactly how you feel, it's why I stopped eating meat. I just imagined all those animals terrified before they were killed en masse. I couldn't bear it and it's been over 40 years now.

It's awful to think of animals suffering.

😥😥

😱😥how sad, and shocking 😥

This is so sad and I really hadn't thought beyond domesticated pets until this year :(

I was vegetarian for about 15yrs for similar reasons. Think I might return to it. 😥

It varies, some animals really don't care whereas others are terrified with everything else in between. Remember in nature they will be exposed to thunder and lightning too. I've had dogs that were scared and others that were absolutely fine and happily watched the display outside. Farm animals who have always lived next to villages will be more used to fireworks compared to those who lived remotely then moved to next to a village for instance. Horses tend to be flighty animals at the best of times

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

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

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.

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

😥

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

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...

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.

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 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

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