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Search forSheep savaged by 'wild cat'
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 10:50
John Chislett, who also farms land at Stoke St Michael, says that many of the sheep found savaged were still alive but suffering from their wounds.
In the past month at least three farmers across an area stretching across the Mendip Hills have found their livestock mutilated and savaged by a mystery beast.
The Clothier family, which farms on the Mendips, lost dozens of sheep in the past month but put it down to a local dog running loose.
Mr Chislett who has lost 28 of his 250-strong flock of pedigree sheep, including Poll Dorset and Shetlands, at Long Cross at Stoke St Michael is certain a wild cat is to blame.
Mutilated sheep with deep, long, razor-sharp rips across their bodies, and with throats and gullets torn out and ears ripped off have convinced him it is not a dog running amok.
Mr Chislett had to put them down humanely with a bullet. The lost sheep included rams bred for food and ewes for breeding, and were worth £2,500.
"This is no dog," he said.
"They have slashes across them, deep rips in their sides, their guts have been pulled out and their ears ripped off. Two have had their throats ripped out.
"A dog will chase, worry, kill and leave, or the sheep often die from the worry of the chase – but this is not the work of a dog."
He believed the predator could have escaped from private captivity or been let loose under new Wildlife Act legislation.
Five years ago Mr Chislett, aged 28, who farms with his father Ken, 58, suffered similar attacks on livestock. They thought then it was the work of a big prowling wild cat. One of its victims then was a large six-month-old calf whose head was nearly torn off.
"Whether it is the same wild animal or not I don't know but wild animals can work a large area," said Mr Chislett, who is now considering applying for temporary planning permission for a hut so a worker can stay on site to protect the stock 24 hours a day.
"We have no insurance to cover this sort of thing," said Mr Chislett. " It is absolutely heartbreaking to see our prize stock being decimated. We just might as well sell everything up, move away and start again elsewhere. I tell you we have had a right gutful of it."
Rural beat team officer Jay Appleton, who is investigating the attacks, said Mr Chislett had reported several sightings by villagers of a large cat-like type animal in the area.
She said: "The injuries suffered by his stock are gruesome."
Police are urging dog owners to keep their animals under control at all times and are appealing for anyone who has witnessed any sightings of an attack or a mystery beast to come forward. Anyone who has any information is urged to ring 0845 4567000 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
