More proof that we should all count sheep: A 56-year-old hiker was moderately wounded Saturday afternoon after an enraged sheep attacked him.

Paramedics alerted to the scene administered first aid and later evacuated the man to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera ; the sheep managed to escape.

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In the early morning hours, the man embarked on a hike along the White Path of Shvil Israel (Israel Path). Along the way, not far from Kfar Qara along Route 6, he came face to face with a sheep who for reasons yet unknown, attacked him, slamming into his torso.

The hiker managed to reach a phone and alert MDA paramedics, who raced to the scene and administered first aid, later evacuating him to the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera.

At the time of his evacuation, the man was conscious and in stable condition.

According to the hospital, the man is suffering from fractures to his lower body. The motivation behind the sheeps' attack are being investigated, including the scenario that the man some-how provoked the sheep.

Sheep, one of the first animals to be domesticated by man thousands of years ago, are considered extremely friendly animals. In addition, most people consider the sheep a "sheepish" or timid animal, lacking even the most basic ability to defend itself.

Accounts of humans being attacked by sheep are very rare. The last event of this nature was reported in April 2009 when a rabid sheep bit a 12-year-old boy in the Shomron.

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