sheep with sweet tooth (teeth)?

[Paul mabbott]

An interesting snippet:
It is February - and thus it can become icy occasionally, despite the
unseasonal balmy weather punctuating this winter. Where necessary,
local councils have been treating the roads to prevent motorists from
skidding. But in north Wales, a flock of sheep has been causing havoc
on the roads. They have apparently become addicted to a sugar-based
solution that helps the grit stick to the road surface.

Elfed Evans, who lives near the roads on Halkyn mountain, Flintshire,
said the animals were refusing to move for traffic as they licked the
road.

"As soon as the gritter goes past, they converge on the road licking
off the grit," he said. "The sheep seem to be addicted to the sweet
salt and refuse to move when cars approach."

A straight-faced official from Flintshire council said they were aware
of the situation. "We note the concerns in relation to the sheep on
Halkyn Mountain and the traffic, but it is known that they can also
be attracted to the taste of the basic rock salt."


So, is it the sugar or is it the salt they're after?

[henrya]

Oh no! That reminds me of one morning in Ireland, listening to the wireless - someone talking about sheep. You do not want to know what the Irish shepherds do with angle grinders! Think dentistry!

henrya

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

An interesting snippet:
It is February - and thus it can become icy occasionally, despite the
unseasonal balmy weather punctuating this winter. Where necessary,
local councils have been treating the roads to prevent motorists from
skidding. But in north Wales, a flock of sheep has been causing havoc
on the roads. They have apparently become addicted to a sugar-based
solution that helps the grit stick to the road surface.

Elfed Evans, who lives near the roads on Halkyn mountain, Flintshire,
said the animals were refusing to move for traffic as they licked the
road.

"As soon as the gritter goes past, they converge on the road licking
off the grit," he said. "The sheep seem to be addicted to the sweet
salt and refuse to move when cars approach."

A straight-faced official from Flintshire council said they were aware
of the situation. "We note the concerns in relation to the sheep on
Halkyn Mountain and the traffic, but it is known that they can also
be attracted to the taste of the basic rock salt."


So, is it the sugar or is it the salt they're after?

Well..... I like my popcorn with both so maybe they like their errrrrr tarmac with both.........

[nightshade]

That would explain why they stand along the verges grinning

[colincurry]

I remember some years ago clambering up Pen y Bryn in the Brecon Beacons. We had stopped for lunch when one of our party, famous for his overlarge appetite, started to complain about the sheep in no uncertain terms.

He was seated on a tussock, sandwich in hand, when a sheep reared up in front of him, placed its front feet on his knees, and lunged for his sandwich. It was clear that the sheep had completely lost their nervousness of man and had found a niche to develop.

Colin

[Adam]

at the farm i'm currently working at we have some hand reared sheep who enjoy the occasional banana.