Why are Ellie and Klaus sleeping in a new spot? What’s happening in their stall? And why are Claire and Moose separated from the flock? Let’s fill you in on the little mystery unfolding at the Sanctuary.

Claire arrived in mid‑December with three other closely bonded sheep. All four are still quite shy as they adjust to their new life of safety, softness, and freedom. We’re giving them all the patience and gentleness they need as they learn that humans can be kind.

Earlier this week, Claire gave us quite a scare. Her sides looked enlarged and she had a winded sounding cough, so Jamie, Judas, and I (Jess) immediately stepped in, assuming she might be experiencing bloat. After administering Bloat‑Ez and monitoring her closely, nothing changed. Not worse, but not better. Jamie checked on her throughout the night, and still no shift.

On Thursday, our vet came to examine several residents and performed an ultrasound on Claire. The results were… inconclusive, but suspicious. The vet believes Claire may be pregnant, but nothing was clearly visible. Moose (who we believe is Claire’s mother) was also ultrasounded since she’s looking round as well. Her results were the same.

The vet also said Claire’s intestines may have shifted during the bloat episode and just haven’t settled back yet, which could explain her enlarged sides — another reason we’re watching her closely as things normalize.

This leaves us with a big question. The only way either of them could be pregnant is if it happened before they arrived in our care. If that’s the case, they would be due any day now.

To keep them safe, Claire and Moose are now on stall rest in a fenced‑off area where they can still see their flock. Judas quickly built a cozy mama‑and‑baby setup inside Ellie and Klaus’s bedroom; one side for Moose and her potential lamb, and the other for Claire and hers, if she is indeed expecting.

That means Ellie and Klaus have temporarily moved to the back of the sheep area for their nighttime room.

Right now, everything is a waiting game. We’re focused on keeping Claire and Moose comfortable, calm, and surrounded by love as we wait to see what surprises are in store.