Tag: Dartmoor

Dartmoor common land stand off with cow

Incident number: 998

Response ID: 307,430,357

Date of incident: 17.09.24

Location: Dartmoor Nearest village: Gidleigh (What three words careful.showrooms.studio)

Status: Two people with dog on lead on PRW

Anonymous report “We were on a footpath on a remote part of Dartmoor a couple of miles away from Scorhill stone circle, just to the north west of Rival Tor. We had previously passed 2 groups of black cows without incident. We saw the cow ahead, not far from the path. It started running aggressively towards us. My husband stood firm and bellowed at it, also waving his walking stick. I walked on with our dog still on a short lead while there was a stand-off between my husband and the cow. The cow started to shake its head which we knew was a sign of danger. Worried it was about to charge him, my husband started to walk away at which point it started running around towards me. I had let the dog off at this point as thought this was best. Luckily the cow stopped and there was another standoff. Fortunately it then lost interest as we walked away. It was particularly frightening as there was nowhere for us to escape to – no hedge, no stream, no gully, just open featureless moorland.”

Further thoughts “There was a sign by the car park from the Gidleigh Commoners Association. FOR YOUR SAFETY PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM ALL CATTLE ESPECIALLY WITH CALVES – went on to give more info about precautions and danger signs, the final advice was, amid danger signs eg cows shaking heads and pawing ground “to retire as calmly and quickly as possible” and then “if a cow actually offers (sic) to attack you let any dog off the lead and the cow may focus interest on the dog while you retreat calmly” The problem is – where do you retreat to in open moorland where there are no fences/boundaries???”

Another attack at Belstone! 3 days apart

Report number: 988
Date of incident: 11/9/2024
Location: Belstone – by nine maidens. W3W ///sprouting.split.upstarts on Tarka Trail, Devon

Single aggressive cow – like the near miss 3 days ago

T-P’s Report: “I was running on the main track as I do frequently. There no forewarning that the cow was agitated. I always give any cow a wide berth. My dogs were on a lead. Next thing I knew I felt the full force of a cow charging into me. I let go of dogs when I fell to ground. The cow ignored the dogs and continued to jump and trample and kick me. The cow would not stop the attack. I managed to crawl through the gorse and somehow got on my feet and ran away. I went to A&E and was sent home.”

Wife’s comments: “I want to make folk aware of a cow charge and trample on my husband and dog yesterday. This was totally unprovoked and both dogs were on lead. He was running along and did not even see the cow until he felt it charge into him and knock him over. The cow then repeatedly kicked and trampled on him, until he has was finally able to get up and run. He is a fit, very strong bloke, I don’t think this would be so easy for many of us.

He has sustained a black eye, multiple fractured ribs along with cuts, bruises and countless splinters all over his body.

Sadly one of our dogs has been seriously injured, the foot was almost degloved and had 3 hrs of emergency surgery last night on his leg. We are just taking it day by day with his injury as the outcome isn’t certain, the leg may not be saved. Huge thanks to North Park Veterinary Group for their amazing emergency care.”

This attack has been reported to the police, the farmer, HSE, Dartmoor commoners and the Belstone commoners.

Killer cows hope both man and dog make a good recovery after this completely unprovoked attack; there seems to be a problem with an aggressive cow here, we have a near miss report (number 987) in the same spot 3 days prior, link to it here –https://killercows.co.uk/2024/09/16/julia-thinks-farmers-who-know-they-have-aggressive-cattle-should-be-made-to-graze-their-cattle-away-from-the-public/

Julia thinks farmers who know they have aggressive cattle should be made to graze their cattle away from the public

Report number: 987
Date of incident: 8/9/2024
Location: ///skip.adjuster.mopped on the Tarka Trail, Nr Okehampton, Devon

cows with calves on open moorland on Dartmoor (mostly pure black herd but main aggressor was pale brown)

Report: “It’s an area we walk very regularly, my dog is off lead but under close control. It was a very foggy day and we found ourselves amongst the cows on the moor. We couldn’t see them until we were about 20m away. We are well aware of their potential so were trying to avoid them. My dog ran past the brown cow and her calf was nearby, she turned and went to attack my dog who was able to run away uninjured. The herd of black cows then came charging up from behind to see what was happening, running past us on either side, we stood still.

Continue reading “Julia thinks farmers who know they have aggressive cattle should be made to graze their cattle away from the public”

A lone runner in Princetown Dartmoor was blue lighted to hospital with multiple injuries

Incident number: 898

Response ID: 304,416,045

Date: 22.06.24

Location: Princetown in Dartmoor The location on what three words was regularly.dressing.gamer

“I was running along a well used public footpath at approximately 9.00am I came across a group of cows all with calves. I slowed my pace as to not startle the cattle. One cow then lifted it’s head and charged straight at me. I was hit fully in the chest and sent backwards the cow then trampled me and landed on top of me crushing me and head. I managed to free myself and jumped over a wall, however the cow then jumped the wall and circled back round to attack me again. I managed to get up and hobble away from the cow screaming at it to try and scare it. It was still chasing me and I ran a mile back to the pub in Princetown where I met a couple who then helped me to floor I was losing consciousness. An ambulance was called along with the critical care paramedic who blue lighted me to Derriford hospital. I was treated and found to have multiple rib fractures and lacerations.”

Multiple spoiled walks and near misses – badly scared walkers

Killer Cows receives many varied reports of aggressive and scary behaviour by cattle, and several of our recently reported incidents are posted below. There does not seem to be one type of breed that is safer and we cannot assume that because cattle did not react the last time we walked through their field, they will be equally calm the next. Farmers can fail to spot when cattle are a risk – so how can we notice?

Our reports are split with 50% having a dog present, 50% not. These incidents have happened in quiet rural spots and in areas where there is a lot of public footfall. Each incident results in badly scared walkers; they are no longer able to enjoy the wonderful freedom of walking along a footpath without worrying whether there are cattle in the next field.

The guidance issued by NFU or The Ramblers can work in some occasions, but not in others. Signage doesn’t seem to be updated to reflect whether cattle are present at the time you are walking – so no help at all. Signs warning of cattle in fields don’t absolve the farmer of their duty of care to walkers, but they may deter some walkers – and some farmers may be happy with this result. There are farmers who are actively looking at ways to keep walkers safe and are proactively working with the legislative bodies – we applaud them. Our footpaths give us access to our countryside, we need to feel safe to enjoy them.

Read the varied accounts below –

Continue reading “Multiple spoiled walks and near misses – badly scared walkers”