Tag: Wales

Mike is trampled by an aggressive cow

Report number 971
Date of incident: 23/5/2022
Location: swung.fever.quiz nr Cwmoody Wales

Group of cows with calves in the field, they were a Charolais/Limousin cross.

Account: ” I was crossing a field on a public footpath with my dog on a lead. A cow was resting under some trees, spotted me and raced across towards me. The cow initially attacked my dog. I tried to save my dog and was then attacked by the most aggressive cow. I was knocked to the ground and butted by this aggressive cow. I tried to get up a couple of times and was knocked back down. Eventually I managed to get to a round bale feeder and sort refuge where I rang the emergency services for help.

I suffered extensive bruising and cuts to my face and severely bruised or broken ribs, I was assessed by paramedics at the scene and a helicopter landed at the location an ambulance was present also. Plus half dozen police officers. I was advised to go to hospital but refused because of my personal circumstances. I I signed a release form accepting responsibility for my own well-being and was sent home. My dog had a limp for sometime after the attack.”

Unexpected near miss

Report number: 842

Date of incident: 2/5/24

Site of incident: There is a R.O.W. path through a field between Tanyrallt cottages, Llanllyfni (Caernarfon), which leads down onto Lon Ddwr (by Bro Silyn).

I walk this route most days as our daily dog walk, and the dog is always on a lead. There are signs on the gate warning of the consequences of dogs worrying sheep. Today I got halfway across the rather large field, when the dog starting behaving as if he were afraid, and when I glanced over my shoulder, there were two cows rapidly gaining pace and heading towards us a little too fast. At this stage both myself and the dog were really scared, we tried to walk as quickly and calmly as possible, without running, and feel that we made it to the gate with moments to spare. They were so close at this point that we could have touched them, so I don’t know what their intentions were. An elderly or less fit person may have been in serious trouble, especially due to the lack of warning signs!

No injuries, but both man and dog very frightened.

Stone circle visit abruptly ended by a herd of cows

Incident number: 777

Response number: 290,254,769

28th August 2023

Glandy Cross (Wales)

My husband and I  were looking at the ancient stone circle at Glandy Cross without a dog. There were cows two fields away. One was looking at us and was mooing loudly. I got caught up in looking at the stones and was behind a bush. My husband shouted that it was time to go from further down the field near the gate. I didn’t hear him mention cows but apparently he did but it was a distance away. Not being aware of the danger I strolled back and he started shouting at me to run. I turned and realised that a herd of about15 cows were about ten feet behind me looking agitated. I froze. I climbed on to a low bank to give myself some thinking space when he shouted that there were more cows behind me. I could feel the breath of one on my neck. The cows weren’t advancing. I looked to my husband and the minute I took my eyes off them they quickly advanced another three feet. They were very agitated. I didn’t want to enrage them but needed to do something so I kept eye contact, shouted loudly and backed away slowly. My husband came back into the field to distract them. I moved slowly and they slowly stalked me. When I got near enough to the gate I ran. The minute I did, they charged and I just got through the kissing gate before they came crashing into the fence. I learned that if a cow is mooing aggressively it’s time to go. Also, it seemed that my running was a trigger for the final charge.

Zepmum says “I heard today that an ex colleague of mine was attacked by a cow a few days ago. She suffered a broken pelvis and had to be airlifted. She was with her husky and a dog but I don’t know any more details yet.”

Several accounts from Pennard, nr Swansea – are visitors safe?

Read the tales of cattle incidents – bitten walkers, charged at golfers, stampeded schoolchildren, scared tourists

The National Trust look after the land around Pennard, Southgate and Three Cliffs Bay, on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales. There is common land across this region and cattle have rights to roam freely over this small tourist hotspot. There is a golf course at Pennard adjoining the common land and the cattle roam across this also.

This is spectacular landscape, Swansea tourist board name this as one of the most photographed areas in Gower. The tourist board suggest several walks that can be taken around here and the Welsh Coastal Path traverses the area. This region sees a high number of visitors.

But neither the National Trust nor the Swansea Tourist Board warn of the dangers posed by the cattle.

We have identified 9 reports of stampedes or threatening and aggressive behaviour by the cattle in this region; our first report is from 2021, but the other 8 are from 2023, all were placed by members of the public onto Killer Cows reporting site. These reports provide evidence that these cattle are behaving in a way that is dangerous to the public. Most of these incidents are not being followed up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and without our site would not have been connected and the danger may have been missed. We need a central database that people can report all incidents too, so dangerous cattle can be identified before someone is killed or badly injured!

Killer cows believe that all of these attacks and incidents could have been extremely serious. Not one school child, walker or tourist or golfer did anything wrong – surely they should expect to be safe on such a famous, well-frequented, coastal footpath area?

Continue reading “Several accounts from Pennard, nr Swansea – are visitors safe?”

C.S story: a family chased by cattle.

The whole herd moved towards us and began to charge.

On the 30th July, 2023, my family and I were walking near Denbigh on a signed public footpath which turned across a field, again clearly signposted. I was with my son, daughter, daughter-in-law, and four year old grandson.

Continue reading “C.S story: a family chased by cattle.”

Aggressive cattle and ruined walks.

A pleasant walk was turned into a nightmare.

We receive many reports from people describing how their peaceful walk was disrupted by the actions of aggressive cattle.

In many of these cases, nobody has been seriously injured, but people have been badly frightened. What should have been a pleasant experience was turned into a nightmare. In addition, many people report feeling apprehensive about future walks in the countryside. Continue reading “Aggressive cattle and ruined walks.”