Dozens of sheep plunge to their deaths from mountain pass in Germany

BERLIN (AP) - German authorities say about 180 sheep slipped off a steep Alpine pass to their deaths.

An official in Germany's southern state of Bavaria told the dpa news agency Wednesday the accident happened Sunday as some 300 sheep walked on a trail with very dry soil from recent hot weather.

Local official Peter Reindl said the animals that lost their footing on a steep slope fell about 100 meters (325 feet) to their deaths.

Reindl said: "This time, they chose the wrong path."

He said about 450 animals are put to pasture in the mountains in the summertime and occasionally one falls off but "I've never seen anything like this."

Shepherds discovered the dead sheep on Monday. The remaining animals are being taken to a safer area.