|
|
|
| Mon, Nov. 09 - - Mobile - RSS | |
|
|
Furry protectors keep watch over their flocks ABOUT MAREMMAS
Culpeper sheep farmer brings in dogs from Italy to protect her flockDate published: 6/1/2008 BY DONNIE JOHNSTON Motorists passing along State Route 3 just east of the town of Culpeper often do a double take when they pass Croftburn Farm. There, in a picturesque green pasture framed by the ridges of Mount Pony, a flock of sheep wander about. And close by those sheep is their protectress, a big white dog named Bella. Day and night, Bella guards her flock, and woe be unto the person or critter that tries to harm the fleece on any member. Meg Campbell's family owns Croftburn Farm, a 1,000-acre sheep and cattle operation. She says Bella, a Maremma, does not herd the sheep, as a border collie or blue heeler might. Maremmas are bred "to protect the sheep," she says. But protect them from what? In pastoral Culpeper County, there hasn't been a case of sheep rustling in even the oldest inhabitant's memory. In fact, except for packs of wild dogs that occasionally got into a flock decades ago and delighted in running the animals to death, sheep there have led a pretty secure life in the past 100 years. But that was before the eastward migration of coyotes. Suddenly, the rules and associated dangers changed. "About 15 years ago, we started losing lambs," says Campbell. "I talked with the game warden and told him I thought coyotes were killing them and he laughed, telling me that there were no coyotes in this part of the country." Campbell says she described the animals she had seen and eventually was able to get photographs. Finally, the game warden began to take her seriously. In the months that followed, a U.S. Department of Agriculture trapper came to the farm and destroyed several coyotes. They had been denning on Mount Pony and slipping across Route 3 through drainage culverts to nab lambs and then return to the high ridges. But the USDA trapper couldn't be sure he had gotten all the coyotes in the area or that others passing through wouldn't find the flock and take up residence. After all, sheep is a coyote delicacy. So Campbell turned to Ray Coppinger, an instructor at her alma mater, Amherst College in Massachusetts. Coppinger, who is also an authority on guard dogs, recommended a Maremma cross and even sold Campbell her first animal. settling in
Read more stories about Culpeper Date published: 6/1/2008
|
 |
|||
|
|||
