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!

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Ahh glad the cows were ok :)

😥

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

I love owls and this is really upsetting for me.

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.

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

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'.