How
do sheep protect
themselves from predators?
Flee, not fight
On the run |
Prey vs. Predator Sheep are a prey animal. When they are faced with danger, their natural instinct is to flee, not fight. Their strategy is to use avoidance and rapid flight to avoid being eaten. |
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Safety in Numbers After
fleeing, sheep will reform their group and look at the predator.
They use their natural herding instinct to band together for safety.
A sheep that is by itself is vulnerable to attack. |
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Never Walk in a Straight Line Sheep tracks are never straight. The winding of trails allows sheep to observe their backside first with one eye and then the other. Sheep can spot dogs or other perceived forms of danger from 1200 to 1500 yards away. |
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Eyes, Ears, and Nose Sheep have excellent senses. Their wide angle of vision allows them to see predators. They can direct their ears to the direction of sound. They are very sensitive to what different predators smell like. Click HERE to read more about sheep senses. |
 Keep an eye on your adversaries |
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Show No Pain Sheep have an amazing tolerance for pain. They do not show pain, because if they did, they would be more vulnerable to predators who look for those who are weak and injured. |
 Don't let your guard down |
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Return to Predator Page. |
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Last updated 17-Jan-2006 by Susan Schoenian.
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