Feral Goats Take Note

I haven't told you that feral goats have pretty much decimated the hundreds of native trees John planted in his extended bush reserve along the stream to the Mangaotaki River here at Struan Farm. We've been trying to manage it, but it's been very frustrating. Some of the trees may grow back, fingers crossed. The goats range through the area, off and along the State Highway. They are major pests in addition to being hazards on the roadside. We're meant to start planting this season's trees, but while the goats are around that would be a complete waste of time, trees, and money.

We chase them away when we see them or have nephew Mike bring his gun to shoot them if they decide to hang around the property. His one day record is 29, this is not just a random few goats wandering through. Every so often one of our neighbours rounds them up, calls in a truck and sends them off to the works. They are getting out of control in the area, and breed in spring. We've just constructed new roadside fencing with wire netting along our southern border to make it more difficult for them to wander in from the road, but they have been known to jump fencing. The billy goats have a rancid smell, meant to make them irresistible, you definitely know when they are around.

After reading a newsletter from Waikato Regional Council that said they were starting to deal with the same problem to the south of us, I wrote to request equal treatment. Fortunately we were able to snap a few photos of them as evidence from a moving car. They often stand in the middle of the road, cars and trucks toot at them to get out of the way. The NZ government and regional councils around the country want rural property owners to fence off rivers and streams from stock and do riparian planting. We're trying to do our part on that score but we can't keep planting trees and having them destroyed by feral goats (it's not realistic to fence hundreds and hundreds of individual young trees, it's hard enough to plant them). Nor can we shoot at goats ranging along SH3!

It seems my request is getting some action. While NZTA, the government agency with responsibility for the state highway, is apparently unwilling to devote resource to this hazard unless and until there's a related road accident, in fairness to them they aren't equipped to cope with feral animals. (If this situation continues, they may need to be.) The regional council, which has pest control squarely in its mandate, has indicated that they will work on the problem in conjunction with the local DOC (Dept. of Conservation) office. The regional council is now contacting our neighbours, I expect to see if they're having the same problems. I've made sure the neighbours know about it, and about what's been happening to our native tree planting programme thanks to the goats. Anyone who drives the road can the see problem on most days. I've seen them ranging from the Mangaotaki Gorge to the south up as far as Paemako Scenic Reserve to the north.

Goats: take note. Your days are numbered. Go elsewhere. Suzie Denize at Hairy Feet Waitomo doesn't seem to be too fussed about goats roaming her property, so head on over to Trollshaw Forest! 

Comments

[Cohen]

Hi there, I noticed when I drove through pio pio there were feral goats everywhere on the side of the road and hillsides etc, I am wondering if I'm allowed to take my dog and kill off a few of them for food dog food etc or is this not allowed on the side of state highway??

[Karen]

Hi there, No, you can't do anything like that beside the State Highway. We can't even shoot them on our property on the edge of the road, had to enlist the Regional Council and NZTA and DOC to hire contractors to cull them. And numbers have to threaten road safety before they are willing to act.