Grand Island residents concerned after spotting several dead sheep at solar plant

GRAND ISLAND N.Y. (WIVB) -- Some Grand Island residents voiced concerns and wanted answers after spotting a number of dead sheep at a solar power plant. The sheep belong to Back Hills Farm and were contracted out to the facility to clear the vegetation surrounding the panels.

Back Hills Farm owner Nick Bauman said four of his sheep were attacked and killed by coyotes at the solar power plant on Bedell Road. 

"There's two things coyotes are going to do, kill because they're looking for something to eat or they already found something to eat and now they're just having fun," Bauman said. "They're just going to go wreak havoc."

The attack troubled some residents on the island after one of them posted photos of the dead sheep on social media, accusing the owner of neglecting the animals. 

Bauman, who's worked at Back Hills Farm for the last three years, said that's not what's happening.

"It's very important for me to take care of my animals," Bauman said. "They are my livelihood. They take care of me just as well as I take care of them. They pay for my bills and everything else associated with what I'm doing. To say that it's neglectful or maybe don't care is a little painful because I care very much."

To help deter predators, Bauman said one solution would be upgrading the fence at the facility on Bedell road.

"Some parts of the fence that are higher or lower just due to terrain," he said. "There's some parts of the fence that have been eroded under. We've been out there years prior to fix some of them but it's all the way around, you practically have to build a new fence in order to really solve the issue."

The SPCA's Animal Rescue Unit stopped by the solar plant and Back Hills Farm Tuesday morning and talked to Bauman. The SPCA was unable to comment if they're investigating.