Increase in livestock attacks on Dartmoor

Dog attacks on livestock are increasing on Dartmoor, despite positive engagement between dog owners and Dartmoor National Park Authority last year.

There have been 70 attacks already this year, up on 2023.
In its annual review, the authority said it engaged with hundreds of dog owners last year in person and in social media campaigns, to reinforce a ‘dogs -on-leads’ message to protect wildlife and livestock.
Rangers said they found engaging with dog owners “much more positive than in past years”.
It distributed 450 free branded dog leads, dog treats and information detailing wildlife that can be found on the moor.
And video content combining posts about dogs on leads with information about the variety of wildlife on Dartmoor during the March to July ground-nesting bird season received 61 per cent more shares and 40 per cent more reactions than ‘finger-pointing’ posts of the previous year.
But head ranger Simon Lee said livestock worrying remained an issue and it would be a focus for moor marshals who have been employed for a fifth year to keep an eye on how people use the moor.
The marshals, part funded by Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez as part of her anti social behaviour crackdown and other organisations, will be on patrol until September during the evenings when the rangers have finished their shifts.
“They will be patrolling key honeypot sites (including Haytor, Cadover, Dart Valley, Wistman’s Wood and Meldon Reservoir) and engaging with members of the public, explaining the special qualities and conveying some of our key messages like asking people to put their dogs on a lead this time of year as we have already had 70 attacks on livestock by dogs which is up from last year,” said Mr Lee.
“They will also be making sure people are not fly camping (on the roadside or other non-permitted locations).”
Mr Lee added that the work was not all about challenging people who disregard the rules, but also saying thank you to people who do the right thing.
He said as well as lambs and foals at risk, people should be aware of  ground nesting birds that could not be seen in heather and gorse.
“Dogs might flush out the birds or disturb them and this will affect the temperature of the eggs and cause the clutch to fail.”
National Farmers Union Mutual figures show that about £360,000 worth of farm animals were severely injured or killed by dogs across the south west last year. The year saw the highest number of livestock attacks ever in England.
There were 95 recorded attacks on Dartmoor during 2023, with some incidents involving more than one animal, the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society said.
Dartmoor marshals spent a total of 1,089 hours patrolling the moor last summer, covering 44 evenings. They recorded 220 incidents relating to overnight stays in motorhomes, fly camping, including open fires, dogs off leads (before the end of July) and at least one occasion of stopping a rave.
The marshals, who are employed through a security firm, dealt with six reports of homeless people living on the moor last year.
These reports often require police to help, but the marshals were able to signpost individuals to councils and other support.