Police in the north of the island are reminding people to shut the gates after them when they are walking in the countryside.
It comes after a farmer contacted them.
He found the gates to several of his fields have been opened and left ajar on a number of occasions over the past couple of weeks.
Livestock then wandered out of their fields.
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A police spokesman said: ’This is particularly frustrating for the farmer as the fields have no public right of way through them, nor do members of the public have any reason to enter or use the fields in question.
’We all love having a ramble and getting out and about in the countryside.
’On your travels, please try to bear in mind other users of the countryside and the land that we enjoy.
’Please don’t enter private fields or land and ensure that, if you do need to open a closed gate for whatever reason, that you take the time to make sure it is closed properly when you move on!
’Livestock escaping can have numerous knock on effects, many not being at first apparent, and can very quickly result in unnecessary suffering or harm coming to those animals.’