M. WendelJan 4, 2025
Amber Griffiths

A couple of months ago I posted a question about whether non-human animals had ever played tricks on you. There were loads of lovely stories, and I ended up drawing a few...

“My brother and I witnessed a ewe teaching her three lambs how to access the local refuse tip. She repeatedly showed them the technique. She would run head-on at the cattle grid, and at the last moment switch position to side-on, rolling over the grid and landing on her feet at the other side"

Jan 4, 2025 at 4:21pmWeb
Show threadAmber GriffithsJan 4, 2025
“I have fallen victim, more than once, to a pony taking a big mouthful of water, holding it in until the right moment, then dropping it down the back of my trousers” – quote from @ametonym
Show threadAmber GriffithsJan 4, 2025
“Once after a routine vaccination my dog lay down, became completely rigid, and screamed if we touched him. We very delicately rushed him to the out of hours emergency vet. He screamed all the way, still rigid. The vet gently checked him over, then after a while said 'can we try just putting him on the floor, but pretend not to look at him'. We did, and he shook himself off, grinned, and started pottering around the room. The vet cracked up, said 'you've been had', and charged half the fee”
Show threadAmber GriffithsJan 4, 2025
ngl it has been and continues to be two of the shite-est months on record so making these has been a nice distraction 💚
Show threadGraham DunningJan 4, 2025
@amberfirefly I enjoyed those a lot, thanks for doing them and sharing. sorry to hear things aren't good.
Show threadCiaraJan 4, 2025
@amberfirefly Sorry to hear things have been tough. Thank you for making and sharing this loveliness
Show threadlouisa_ :)Jan 4, 2025

@amberfirefly I'm sorry to hear you've been struggling. These are beautiful though. I love the style and colour selection - and the stories are obviously a delight.

I hope the shiteness eases up soon.

Show threadJoan Combs DursoJan 4, 2025
@amberfirefly these are so wonderful! Thanks for the lift. May the months get better!
Show threadCiaraJan 4, 2025
@amberfirefly Joyous. Both the sneaky, cheeky animals and your illustrated stories.
Show threaddavec Jan 4, 2025
@amberfirefly our dog seems to often have a miraculous recovery when we arrive at the vets - hallowed ground perhaps.
Show threadMaria ShanleJan 4, 2025
@amberfirefly delightful, thank you for sharing and for your adorable artwork ☺️
Show threadDeborah Preuss, pcc 🇨🇦Jan 5, 2025
@amberfirefly nooooo! 😂🤣😂🤣🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️
Show threadGreenSkyOverMe (Monika)Jan 5, 2025
@amberfirefly 🙀
Show threadSeventeenth MagpieJan 4, 2025
@amberfirefly these are fantastic!! <33
Show thread🔥torstein🔥Jan 4, 2025
@amberfirefly I've seen sheep using different methods to cross cattle grids (jump and roll, partially crawling, balancing on a load carrying center bar or just carefully tippy toing across) but this is the first time I've heard of a ewe teaching lambs how to do it.
I just assumed they saw another individual cross, and then figured out a way to imitate that.
Show threada fading echoJan 4, 2025

@amberfirefly
The technique of rolling across grids was first observed, here, in Wales, and in subsequent years slowly spread across the UK. I've not seen reported whether it has reached the tips of Scotland, Cornwall, and Kent.

Yet.

Show threadWoozle HypertwinJan 4, 2025
@midgephoto @amberfirefly
Show threadPamela SchureJan 4, 2025
@midgephoto @amberfirefly I’ll keep an eye on the sheep next time I’m in Cumbria to see if it’s spread that far.
Show threadeconadsJan 5, 2025
@Ivor
Show threadGiles GoatJan 5, 2025
@amberfirefly In our experience we saw that sheep are VERY clever and they can learn various things ( especially if they allow them to get access to food/stuff they want ). They are especially good in reading human emotions and they soon learn to give you "that face" that if you are soft of heart ( for sheep ) it means they'll get anything they want 😂 They know how to exploit humans to their advantage for sure ! Often they like to play with us which means sometime you may feel a sheep CONT.
Show threadGiles GoatJan 5, 2025
@amberfirefly CONT. butting your knee or insisting in rubbing its head on your leg, "giving you a tap" ( that MAY end up in you flying on the ground ) and sometime just suddenly appearing sticking its head between your legs with an amused expression 😂 But "the most used trick" they have is "giving you THAT face" that ends up in them receiving some extra cuddles and/or some extra biscuit and/or some extra little scoop of food 🥰