In Norway’s many holiday home areas, livestock also wander in search of warm sun walls and good pasture. When the cabin people then arrive at the cabin, it is not always as nice in the outdoor area. Several holiday home owners have therefore put up fences to prevent unwanted visitors. But for the sheep, the encounter with these fences can end in a long and painful death. The sheep like to look for pasture and sun walls in holiday home areas. Photo: Gunnar Morsund / news Got suffocated Last week, the technical agency and the grazing team carried out an inspection of Haglebu in Sigdal municipality. According to the municipality, the result was disappointing. – The inspection revealed several cases of illegal fences that are dangerous for grazing animals, says Kjell Ove Hovde, who is technical manager in the municipality. Earlier this summer, a sheep was suffocated after becoming entangled in a fence. – Lack of knowledge It is illegal to fence off leisure properties in Sigdal. The mayor makes a clear appeal to the cottagers. Photo: Ragne B. Lysaker If you want to put up a fence, you must apply for this from the municipality. Tine Norman is mayor of Sigdal municipality. She says there are good reasons why they are restrictive. – The animals get stuck and suffer a painful death. The sheep often get inside the fence, but not out again. If the weather is dry, it will thirst to death. This problem is rooted in thoughtlessness and a lack of knowledge, says Norman. Used handball nets Netting fences that are halfway down become dangerous for grazing animals. Photo: Sigdal municipality The fences that were discovered during the inspection were everything from handball nets to fences that are basically designed for livestock. But electric wire fences without electricity can act as fishing nets, and then become a death trap. Such fences require daily supervision, the municipality writes on its website. – I have no faith that anyone would want to kill animals in that way. The municipality’s call is resoundingly clear. All illegal fences must be demolished. Then we can prevent more such tragedies, says Norman. Even fences intended for livestock can become death traps without daily supervision. Photo: Sigdal municipality – It’s the worst This challenge is not unique to Sigdal municipality. Among them, Løten, Gausdal, Ringsaker and Nesbyen are known for such fences. – Many people think that it is fine if they put up electric fences without turning on the electricity. But that’s the worst, because the animals are not scared by the shock, but just get entangled in the fence, says Anders Halland, who is the municipal director in Nesbyen municipality. Taking responsibility The sheep became entangled in the mesh fence and got stuck. Photo: Stein Tore Aalien The cottage owners in question now receive a text message to remove the fences from Sigdal municipality. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is the supervisory authority for animal welfare. But for now, it is the municipality itself that takes responsibility. – The municipality must make the issue visible to leisure residents. We must show what the ultimate consequence is. And that it is actually illegal, if you have not applied for it through the municipality, says mayor Norman. The municipality says that they have received a positive response from the cottagers. – We have received several calls from cabin owners. They are happy to be informed, and they want to clean up, says technical manager Kjell Ove Hovde. Turid Wahl finds that many cabin owners agree to tear down the fences. Photo: Private – Terrible Turid Wahl is a cabin owner in Sigdal. She feels that there is a consensus that these fences do not belong on the cottages. She says that several people have removed them when they found out what the ultimate consequence could be for the sheep. – It is terrible to see animals suffer like this. This information is new to many. So now there are more of us who make sure that such fences are not erected here, says Wahl.
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Illegal fences in Sigdal – Sheep gets stuck and dies – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
