https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/1ib5fyb/why_do_sheep_stare_at_us/
created by proxima-centauri- on 27/01/2025 at 10:30 UTC
43 upvotes, 60 top-level comments (showing 25)
We do a fair bit of walking/hiking in the country side. Whenever we pass by sheep, they either run away or stand and stare (like in the photo). Is there more to this staring than just keeping an eye on the threat? It's kind of funny though 😄
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Comment by Scarred_fish at 27/01/2025 at 10:34 UTC*
143 upvotes, 4 direct replies
They're wondering why you're walking over the food and not eating anything!
But seriously, sheep are very curious animals. The often spend time observing things, not just humans, and often much smaller animals like birds, rabbits etc. What they're thinking, who knows, but it's more than just keeping an eye on a threat.
Unlike most prey animals, sheep can become almost trance like when they get fixated on something to the extent they ignore obvious threats. Anyone who has worked with sheep knows there are often a few completely oblivious to a barking sheepdog because they're staring at a plant or something.
Comment by Sirico at 27/01/2025 at 10:39 UTC
273 upvotes, 5 direct replies
ewe wot m8
Comment by BeatificBanana at 27/01/2025 at 10:44 UTC
42 upvotes, 1 direct replies
They are a prey animal. If you were a prey animal, and you caught sight of a strange animal that was much bigger than you, you'd probably want to keep an eye on it too.
Comment by 1HeyMattJ at 27/01/2025 at 10:37 UTC
40 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I have a lot of farmland near me, with stone walls around them separating the field from the road, there are sheep in these fields and it occurred to me the other day that because of the height the wall is at the sheep will basically just see a floating head as I walk past 😂
Comment by idontlikemondays321 at 27/01/2025 at 10:42 UTC
12 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They are naturally curious and have to be on the look out for threats. Cows are another level of nosey though
Comment by Mortensen at 27/01/2025 at 10:34 UTC
25 upvotes, 1 direct replies
You're staring at them too, they're just going 'what you looking at?'.
Comment by Sensitive-Question42 at 27/01/2025 at 10:35 UTC
17 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I think it’s because they are a prey animal and they are trying to sus out if you are a threat or not.
Being a farm animal, and used to being around some humans, they are unsure if all humans are a threat or not.
Comment by LordBrixton at 27/01/2025 at 10:49 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Were you wearing a jumper at the time?
Comment by bladefiddler at 27/01/2025 at 10:58 UTC
12 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I don't have a lot of experience with sheep, but most of it has taught me that they're pretty fucking stupid. Those signs farmers put up saying "Careful Slow Lambs": every grammatical interpretation applies.
They're probably not thinking much at all really. I don't reckon they're evaluating your fellwalker fashion or contemplating the meaning of life.
If they're staring at you rather than grazing, they're watching for any sign that will trigger their 'I'm fucking off' reaction - which, if triggered could well end them up stuck in a fence or stood on a road...
I did wonder while out on my motorbike why, among vast miles of open moorland do they tend to congregate around the single strip of road? Either the black tarmac acts as a solar heat-sink and they like a warm lie down on it, or they prefer the 'spicy grass' at the roadside with the extra tang of exhaust emissions & brake dust. I haven't quite decided which!
Comment by MissMollyMole7 at 27/01/2025 at 10:45 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I guess we would stare at them if they sauntered down our high street… would be great to know what they are thinking tho… and the cows who chew the cud whilst staring at you…
Comment by ttown2011 at 27/01/2025 at 11:10 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They’ve heard the stories from Wales
Comment by mackerel_slapper at 27/01/2025 at 11:57 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Sheep are famous for spending their waking hours trying to work out how to kill or injure themselves, so they’re probably hoping you’ve got a gun, or a big knife.
Comment by CarefulAstronomer255 at 27/01/2025 at 11:03 UTC
7 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Being domesticated animals, they shouldn't see you as predator. They might be hoping you're going to give them food.
Comment by gigglesmcsdinosaur at 27/01/2025 at 10:49 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They know.
Comment by PapaJrer at 27/01/2025 at 10:52 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Because we look really silly for animals? Lack of fur/feathers, weird different outer layers, walk upright, and, also, we look at them?
Comment by ghostoftommyknocker at 27/01/2025 at 11:05 UTC*
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
They're using x-ray vision to spot your merino wool base layers and now they're judging you. 🧐
On a serious note, sheep are curious, prey animals and genuinely more intelligent than people give them credit for being. They're constantly assessing their environment, and so are assessing people to see if they are a threat, in the area for sheep-related reasons, etc. ... which, I suppose, does boil down to them judging us, after all.
Comment by Twolef at 27/01/2025 at 10:50 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
One does it and they all follow suit
Comment by New_Expectations5808 at 27/01/2025 at 10:58 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Look weird
Comment by CiderDrinker2 at 27/01/2025 at 10:58 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Sheep find us fascinating.
We find them delicious.
It pays to be the apex predator.
Comment by mEmotep at 27/01/2025 at 11:06 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They don't trust us. We are quite shifty looking
Comment by Neddlings55 at 27/01/2025 at 11:16 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
As prey animals its a safety thing. Keep the predator/danger in sight at all times. Especially as many predators are ambush hunters. Cant be stalked if you have your eye on the threat.
You see it in certain wild animals too.
Many herd species will even follow what they deem to be a threat. My dog and i get followed by flocks all the time.
Some sheep may associate humans with food.
My aim is to always walk slow enough that they dont run. Foot rot is a huge issue and many sheep will be in pain and lame. I also dont want my dog to be triggered by their movement.
I never cut through a flock either - i will walk round if needed as they will always panic and try to regroup if you split them.
Comment by front-wipers-unite at 27/01/2025 at 11:44 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Sheep don't stare at me. You must've up them.
Comment by SmartPipe3882 at 27/01/2025 at 11:54 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Same reason the Welsh stare at them.
Comment by Significant-Yak-2373 at 27/01/2025 at 12:01 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They have nothing else to do.