It is not yet clear how many sheep have died as a result of the snow.

BBC: Relief package of ?5m made available to farmers

Many sheep farmers have been unable to get food supplies to their livestock and are facing significant losses.

BBC: Hundreds still struggling with effects of snow storm

"Many sheep farmers, especially those on the uplands and in the Peak District, have struggled with rising input costs and poor weather, " he added.

BBC: Struggling farmers urge PM to retain EU subsidies

All true, but Buttonwood can't help feeling nonetheless that many pundits have cried sheep once too often.

ECONOMIST: Markets should worry about the surging oil price

North Wales was hit by very heavy snow for several days from 21 March with large drifts that prevented farmers in many areas reaching their sheep at the height of the lambing season.

BBC: Lambs in snow

Most shepherds graze sheep, some yaks, but many also have a herd of horses left to wander the valleys throughout summer.

BBC: The way of the shepherd: Horse trekking through Kyrgyzstan

Many sheds have collapsed under the weight of the snow and significant numbers of sheep have been buried.

BBC: Farmers plead for snow emergency aid to Welsh government

And though some alien species--such as horses, cattle and sheep--are important parts of our culture and commerce, many are pests.

CNN: Fish tale

"So many sick things have happened, " says Haruki Murakami, one of Japan's leading novelists (A Wild Sheep Chase, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle).

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia