They were going full-out. I yelled and jumped, and waved my arms.
In May, 2017, I was walking with a friend along the Serpent’s Trail through the South Downs. We were somewhere near Petworth, and had strayed slightly off the trail because we misread a sign. Continue reading “Elizabeth had to run for the gate.”
The cow trampled down the grandmother, and was trying to kill the boy.
In May 2015, I was walking with my husband along a footpath through a field behind Redhurst Cottage, Wetton Mill, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire
We walked past a group of cows and met a small boy with his grandmother walking in the opposite direction. I heard the grandmother say, Continue reading “Kathleen ran to rescue a trampled boy”
I was housebound, unable to move or walk, and in considerable pain for two months
I was walking alone on a footpath in Somerset, 1st September 2017, and had nearly reached Chardstock, when a large herd of bullocks made a bee-line for me. Continue reading “Mike’s story: housebound after an attack”
We noticed scattered cattle, and then one black cow began behaving strangely.
In August 2016, my wife and I were walking on Dartmoor near Sticklepath (grid reference SX 625925). We noticed scattered cattle, and then one black cow began behaving strangely. Continue reading “Simon meets a rogue black cow.”
My wife ended up with a bruise on her forehead and a black eye.
In 2014, my wife and I were walking on a marked trail near a golf course, near Bungay, in Suffolk.
The trail cut across a field for about 200 yards. We noticed there was a group of about 30 cows to our right at a distance of 50 yards, and three or four cattle/bulls to our left at about 100 yards. There were no calves in the field. Continue reading “The Americans ran for it!”
I resorted to prodding the bullocks on the nose.
It was May, 2016, and the two of us were walking near Trefnant, in Wales. About 20 black and white bullocks approached us, and pinned us against a dry stone wall and bushes. Continue reading “Jumped over a wall to escape from bullocks”
I know I was LUCKY, because I would have died if the dog had not slipped her lead.
In May, 2010, I was out on a routine country walk in the Yorkshire Dales, with my wife and our young dog. We noticed the dog’s collar was becoming a little tight, so we loosened it a notch. Continue reading “Hugh’s story: trampled by the herd”
Mick Burton is an experienced walker and group leader. Here he shares his tips for staying safe while walking through cattle. Continue reading “Mick’s 5 simple rules for staying safe”
My husband barely got through the tiny opening, before the bullocks hit the gate full on.
In 2010, I was crossing a field with my husband. We were on a public footpath in the Duddon Valley, near Seathwaite Village, Cumbria (Grid Ref: SD 2278096094). We didn’t have a dog with us. Continue reading “Charged by bullocks, and a lucky escape”
Many visitors to our Killer Cows site have suggested the use of electric fencing to keep cattle separated from walkers on a public footpath.
One of our commentators, Martin, has taken the time to create a simple diagram to explain how the fencing could be moved during the day to allow cattle access to the whole field, while still protecting the footpath.
Continue reading “Electric wire fencing”
Limousin cows are the breed we most often feature in our Horror Stories section.
Why? Because they are now the commonest type of beef cattle farmed in the UK, and because Limousin cows do seem to be more aggressive than traditional British breeds.
It’s not just humans who are at risk. Just look at what happened in Ireland, when a swan made the mistake of landing in a field of Limousins.
The entire herd charged the poor bird, intent on trampling it. Luckily the swan was eventually rescued, and is recovering on a nearby lake.
Read the whole story in the Irish Mirror.
Photo of swan being chased by the herd of cattle: photo credit Dan Linehan.
Look out for dodgy fences, and cow pats.
We asked for useful tips to help us stay safe while out in the countryside. Here, David discusses techniques for avoiding cattle while out walking. Continue reading “Staying safe around cattle”
Cattle Safety 