Unrustled – Thieves Return 48 Sheep to Wyoming Ranch

When rancher Guy Edwards discovered that 48 of his sheep were missing he assumed they were “long gone.” But in what appears to be a strange case of un-rustling, all of Edwards sheep have recently reappeared in his pasture.

Edwards told Cowboy State Daily that the missing sheep were returned to the 2,200-acre pasture sometime between July 10 and July 21. There are still 32 yearling ewes missing from the ranch that belong to Edwards father Rich.

Edwards knows it sounds strange that the sheep would be returned and people will certainly question his version.

"I know people are going to say we didn't count right," Edwards said. "We counted them five times. I'm a brand inspector. I would hope I can count."

After the ewes were stolen, Edwards said he found tire tracks near a fence in his pasture. He thinks that's where the ewes were gathered and loaded into a trailer.

He credits Facebook and news reports with getting the word out about the disappearance of the sheep and thinks the rustlers may have gotten cold feet. A Facebook post on Edwards’ Rambouillet page was shared 1,600 times.

Edwards believes that the media attention made the rustlers nervous about trying to sell the sheep.

"Somebody must have gotten awful damn nervous," Edwards said. "That's all I can think."

He said the Campbell County Sheriff's Office and Wyoming Livestock Board have stayed busy investigating the case.

Anyone with information on the missing sheep can contact the Campbell County Sheriff's Office at 307-682-7271, or the Wyoming Livestock Board at 307-777-7515.