Baby lambs in Clover stolen or killed by coyotes just days before Easter

Police in York County are investigating the potential theft, or slaughter, of four baby lambs before Easter in a crime that could either be at the hands of a thief or the teeth of coyotes.

A woman who lives on a farm on Beamguard Road outside Clover told deputies that four newborn lambs that had not yet been weaned from their mothers were missing. The woman told officers that she believed cunning thieves were stealing the lambs by sneaking onto her property from her driveway or through a neighbor’s property nearby.

The woman said that the lambs went missing during the day, so she does not believe that the nocturnal hunting coyotes were responsible.

However, a neighbor told deputies that he has seen coyotes in the area and admitted to killing some of the coyotes to protect his property. The neighbor said that the most likely the coyotes dug under the fence and killed the four lambs.

This story was originally published April 5, 2015 at 12:05 PM with the headline "Baby lambs in Clover stolen or killed by coyotes just days before Easter."