Can lice live away from sheep or on other animals?
Lice are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity and most die soon after being removed from sheep. However, under favourable conditions some lice can survive for up to a month. Sheep can become infested if held in facilities where lousy sheep have recently been penned, but the risk is low. Sheep lice will reproduce only on sheep and possibly sometimes on goats, but it is unlikely that goats act as a source of infestation under paddock conditions. Sheep lice will not breed on birds, people, cattle, kangaroos or other animals. Lice infestations are more common in scrubby areas, not because lice breed on kangaroos or other animals as is sometimes thought, but because infested sheep are missed at muster and not treated. Although lice cannot breed on humans, they can transfer onto clothing or footwear when shearers or stock handlers are in close contact with sheep. Precautions should be taken to prevent lice being spread between infested and clean mobs by this means.
