A HORRIFIED Staffin crofter had to put down his own lamb after finding it seriously injured on a roadside close to his croft.
John Gillies discovered the young lamb on the single-track road on Thursday (2.5.24) which goes through Sartle common grazing to the Quiraing.
He thought the lamb had either been hit late on Wednesday or early this morning.
"The poor thing was still alive but I found it with its jaw hanging off and its eye hanging out," he said. "I had to put it down it was so badly hurt. It's very poor that nobody reported the collision to ourselves as the nearest house on the road at Sartle or even tried to get help."
Public roads go through several common and hill grazings including Sartle, Garafad, Flodigarry, Stenscholl, Maligar and Marishadder with local and visitor drivers urged to pay heed to livestock.
If you hit an animal which is covered by the Road Traffic Act 1988 – including sheep, cattle and dogs, you are legally required to report it to the police. You can also call the SSPCA (03000 999 999).
Crofters in Staffin and the Linicro sheep stock club who have animals in and around the Quiraing are already under pressure losing lambs to sea eagles and alarming dog worrying incidents in recent years.