Feral goat facts for kids
A feral goat is a domestic goat that has escaped and now lives wild. These goats can be found in many places around the world. They are the same kind of goat that farmers raise, but they have adapted to living on their own in nature.
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What are Feral Goats?
Feral goats come from many different types of domestic goats, but they all originally came from the wild goat, Capra aegagrus. Even though they might look a bit different, they all share similar features. Both domestic and feral goats have noticeable straight horns (which are bigger on male goats), rectangular pupils in their eyes, and rough hair. Most of these goats weigh about 100 to 120 pounds. Wild goats tend to be heavier than domestic ones.
How Feral Goats Behave
Feral goats live in many countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Great Britain, Hawaii, and the Galapagos. When there are too many feral goats in an area that isn't used to them, they can become an invasive species. This means they can cause serious problems, like eating too much native scrub, trees, and other plants. Feral goats are even on a list of the "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species."
However, sometimes feral goats can actually help an environment. They can be used for conservation grazing, which means they eat unwanted plants or weeds in natural areas like chalk grassland and heathland. This helps keep these habitats healthy.
What Feral Goats Eat
Goats are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. Their diet includes trees, shrubs, and grasses. Goats have a special four-chambered stomach that allows them to eat many plants that would be poisonous to other animals. For example, capeweed has high levels of nitrates that are usually toxic. But goats can process these chemicals and eat it without much trouble.
Even with their strong stomachs, some things are still dangerous for goats to eat. Molds are very toxic and can kill a goat. Nightshades and wilted fruit tree leaves are also harmful. A type of bacteria called Listeria can also be deadly to goats. Besides plants, goats are very curious and sometimes try to eat almost anything! They have been seen trying to eat trash like tin cans and cardboard. While their stomachs can process these materials, they don't get any food value from them and should only eat plants.
Who Hunts Feral Goats?
Because feral goats live in so many different places, they have many predators. Dog-like animals are big threats, including coyotes, wolves, and foxes. Other animals like bobcats and large birds, such as eagles, also hunt and eat feral goats.
Feral Goats Around the World
Majorca
Majorca is an island in Spain, located in the Mediterranean Sea. Feral goats, also called Balearen bocs, were brought here by people between 2300-2050 BC. They were first used for food. Over time, they started to become a problem for domestic goats and native trees. The biggest concern for these goats is that they are mixing with domestic goats. These goat populations are harming the growth of new trees, especially oak trees, on the island.
England
Around 5000 years ago, non-native goats, known as British primitive goats, were brought to Britain as farm animals for milk and meat. Today, there are still about 5,000 to 10,000 goats in the country. Their numbers change because of how they are managed, conserved, and sometimes removed. These invasive goats can damage natural habitats. One way they are managed is through hunting, which is allowed all year round in England.
Ireland
Feral goats arrived in Ireland over 4000 years ago. They were brought for their meat, milk, and hair. You can often find them in the mountains of Ireland, especially in counties like Mayo, Donegal, and Kerry. There are about 5,000 goats in Ireland. They don't have any known predators, not even humans, and are usually left alone. While they can damage native plants by eating grass, shrubs, and young trees, there are currently no plans to remove them from the country.
New Zealand
Early explorers, whalers, and settlers brought feral goats to New Zealand starting in 1773 for food and trading. More goats were brought later for different reasons, like farming or to help control other invasive plants. This led to a big problem, with feral goats now living in 14% of New Zealand. They have started to destroy the natural plant life on the islands. Currently, hunting and using "Judas goats" (goats with tracking collars that lead hunters to the herd) are the main ways to control them. However, these methods haven't fully stopped the goats, and they are still a threat.
Scotland
Feral goats in Scotland were brought by people in the Stone Age for farming. They were likely left behind in the late 1700s during the Highland Clearances, when many people had to leave their homes in the Scottish Highlands. These people couldn't take their animals, so the goats were left to roam free. The goats managed to thrive, and their population grew to about 3,000 to 4,000. Even though they are common, the Scottish government sees them as a non-native, invasive species. They are a big threat to the Scottish Highlands, as they eat too much vegetation in at least 18 conservation areas. Hunting is a main way to control their numbers, but few other plans have been put into action.
United States
A big problem with feral goats in the United States happened on the San Clemente Islands, off the coast of southern California. Goats were first brought to the island in 1875. Their population grew to about 15,000 because they were not managed properly. These goats started to harm the island's natural environment, destroying plants and affecting other animals that relied on those plants for food.
The United States Navy, which owns the island, allowed hunting and trapping of these goats until 1972. It was clear this wasn't enough to control the population. So, a special program was created to remove the goats. An animal welfare group called Fund for Animals stopped the initial plan to remove the goats by helicopter. Instead, they suggested selling the goats to people on the mainland. This plan moved 3,000 goats to farms to become domestic again. Many goats that weren't bought were adopted by the Fund for Animals. The remaining goats were allowed to be removed by the Navy. By 1991, the island was declared free of feral goats. The The Livestock Conservancy now considers these San Clemente Island goats a critically endangered heritage breed. In 2008, there were only about 400 of them left worldwide, all now living as domestic animals.
Wales
Feral goats also live in the mountains of Welsh. They are used for conservation grazing in several places, like Stackpole in South Wales and on Great Orme in Llandudno in North Wales.
Problems Caused by Feral Goats
Feral goats can cause many long-term problems for native plants in any country. They eat too much vegetation, which is called overgrazing. This can lead to soil erosion because plant roots that hold the soil in place are lost. These goats also affect native animal species because they use up a lot of resources, leading to more competition for food and space.
Lastly, feral goats can spread new plants and weeds to areas where they don't normally grow through their droppings. This can damage the ecosystem because native plants now have to compete with these new species. Besides environmental harm, feral goats can also cause economic problems by damaging farms and costing governments money to control them.
