Recently, a group of people out for a walk near a paddock in Australia spotted what looked like a large, lichen-covered boulder in the distance.
As they got closer, their curiosity grew — and soon, they realized the “boulder” wasn’t a rock at all. It was a sheep, abandoned and completely overgrown with wool, so long that it had become dangerous.
Concerned for the animal’s well-being, the walkers immediately called Edgar’s Mission for help.
“[She] looked more like the lichen-covered boulders in the area than a sheep,” the sanctuary wrote in a statement.
When sanctuary founder Pam Aher saw video of the sheep pacing in circles, clearly confused and frightened, she knew rescuers had to act quickly.
“I knew we had to act fast,” Aher said.
After coordinating with local authorities, Edgar’s Mission staff raced to the paddock and brought the sheep, later named Methuselah, into their care.
Covered in so much wool that she couldn’t even see, Methuselah was finally sheared — revealing her true self beneath 54 pounds of matted fleece.
“The moment we freed her face, it was like someone had turned the lights on,” Aher said. “She looked up at us as if to say thank you, and her fear melted away into joy as she happily munched on fresh hay.”
After removing the rest of her massive coat, Methuselah was given two warm blankets to help her adjust to life without the wool that had weighed her down for so long.
The once-hidden sheep quickly adapted and even made a friend in Adam, another rescue sheep at Edgar’s Mission.
Aher knows Methuselah’s life would have been very difficult if the walkers hadn’t spotted her that day.
“Her days in that paddock would have been terrifying,” Aher said. “We are so grateful to the kind-hearted people who made the call and helped save her.”
Methuselah is now safe, healthy, and thriving at Edgar’s Mission. To help support animals like her, you can make a donation to the sanctuary.
