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Sheep at risk next to popular trail on Island
Better signage needed to increase trail users’ awareness
by BARBARA JOHNSTONE GRIMMER
METCHOSIN – The owners of Stillmeadow Farm in Metchosin have asked Metchosin district council to change the signage on a popular recreational trail. Tom Henry and Violaine
Mitchell say improved signage will reduce the number of lambs killed by dogs and increase the awareness and responsibility of dog owners who use the Sea Bluff trail. The District of Metchosin publishes a brochure describing the routes of 10 community trails, which simply states, “Please respect private property and stay on the trails.” For the Sea Bluff trail, which goes around the working sheep farm, the brochure adds, “Please close
all gates behind you.” Signage posted on the trail
by the district council says, “Farm Area: Please Keep to Trail,” to which Henry and Mitchell add, “Sheep Out – Please Close Gate,” whenever sheep are in the field. Henry and Mitchell would
prefer that the district signage clearly state that dogs must always be on a leash.
Because of increasing off- leash dog problems in recent years, including attacks on sheep and incidents with dog owners who refuse to control their dogs, Henry and Mitchell have added a bright pink sign stating plainly, “Loose dogs kill lambs, please leash your dogs, use twine if you need a temporary leash. Please and thank you.” Orange baling twine is left on the gate for dog owners who
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2020
A dog attack on sheep that doesn’t result in death is still likely to have signficiant consequences, whether physical or emotional trauma – or both. FILE PHOTO
need it. Stillmeadow Farm has lost
many sheep to dog attacks over the years but not all attacks lead to sheep mortality, according to Henry. This doesn’t mean non-fatal attacks aren’t a problem. “Even an attack that
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doesn’t lead to death can be significant,” says Henry. “If a dog or dogs run the ewes when they are pregnant they can abort or if they have lambs afoot, an attack can disrupt milk production. No matter what the dog’s intention is – kill or playtime – the result is a traumatized flock and as a farm, that feels like a big fail.” Despite a recent dog
attack after the bright pink
sign went up, the farm owners do not want to close the trail or ban dogs completely, but they do want dogs to be on-leash. If the situation does not improve, Stillmeadow may consider a “no dogs beyond this point” policy.
Some people have suggested that the offending dogs be shot, but the area is mostly small-lot farming and the proximity to houses and people rules out this option. Others believe dog owners should be responsible and control their dogs. The fact sheep aren’t in the field all the time complicates the situation. Some people walk their dogs off-leash without incident. If a dog
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owner sees that, and later walks their dog off-leash with sheep present in the field, there is a much greater likelihood of a problem. It is easier for all concerned if the farm trail always requires dogs be on-leash.
The Sea Bluff trail was established by Mitchell’s grandfather who grew up in England and was familiar with the British trail system. The district assumed responsibility for the trail in the 1980s.
The issue of recreational trails and agricultural land was a consideration in a consultation regarding the province’s seven-year-old trails strategy, which wrapped up February 28. The trails strategy
acknowledges the significant agricultural impacts of recreational uses. One of the 22 key actions in the 2012 strategy was the development of “a ‘best practices’ approach to the stewardship of trails on, or adjacent to, agricultural and private lands.” “A best practices guide for
managing trails on private land will provide trail advocates with an effective set of tools to engage private land owners to win support for valued community trails,” the strategy notes. With files from Peter Mitham
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