If you are like Little Bo Peep, and on the hunt for your sheep, you could be reunited at the Waitaki District Council pound or Trade Me.

A flock of 11 sheep, 10 ewes and one ram, was found wandering on Ōamaru’s Traill St about four weeks ago, Council Animal Management senior compliance officer Tristan Hope said.

This is the biggest flock Animal Management had impounded, although not the first wayward flock it had come across.

The animals were being looked after in a pound paddock, had been drenched last week, and were dining on a mix of grass, lucerne chaff and sheep nuts, Tristan said.

Despite social media posts and a newspaper ad, the owners had not come forward, and the sheep were now up for auction on Trade Me with a $300 reserve.

Tristan said the breed and value of the sheep were unknown.

“The sheep are impounded under the Impounding Act 1955, and as they have not been claimed by the owner, must be sold in a public auction. Trade Me is the most efficient way to do this.”

As of Friday morning, the bidding sat at $800. The auction closes on Wednesday (March 15) afternoon.