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Background Anecdotal reports and a few scientific publications suggest that flyovers of helicopters at low altitude may elicit fear- or anxiety-related behavioral reactions in grazing feral and farm animals. We investigated the behavioral and physiological stress reactions of five individually housed dairy goats to different acoustic and visual stimuli from helicopters and to combinations of these stimuli under controlled environmental (indoor) conditions. The visual stimuli were helicopter animations projected on a large screen in front of the enclosures of the goats. Acoustic and visual stimuli of a tractor were also presented. On the final day of the study the goats were exposed to two flyovers (altitude 50 m and 75 m) of a Chinook helicopter while grazing in a pasture. Salivary cortisol, behavior, and heart rate of the goats were registered before, during and after stimulus presentations. Results The goats reacted alert to the visual and/or acoustic stimuli that were presented in their room. They raised their heads and turned their ears forward in the direction of the stimuli. There was no statistically reliable rise of the average velocity of moving of the goats in their enclosure and no increase of the duration of moving during presentation of the stimuli. Also there was no increase in heart rate or salivary cortisol concentration during the indoor test sessions. Surprisingly, no physiological and behavioral stress responses were observed during the flyover of a Chinook at 50 m, which produced a peak noise of 110 dB. Conclusions We conclude that the behavior and physiology of goats are unaffected by brief episodes of intense, adverse visual and acoustic stimulation such as the sight and noise of overflying helicopters. The absence of a physiological stress response and of elevated emotional reactivity of goats subjected to helicopter stimuli is discussed in relation to the design and testing schedule of this study.

The 2008-2009 Aerial Feral Pig and Feral Goat Shooting Program aimed to reduce feral mammal infestations in the Barnard/Hunter River catchment areas, northern New South Wales (NSW), Australia, over a 2-year period, as well as to provide skills to landholders to manage vertebrate pests. By accomplishing these reductions in pest animal densities, it endeavoured to reduce impacts of feral mammals on soil and water resources and on native flora and fauna, thereby protecting ecosystems and giving benefits to the wider community. The NSW Department of Industries and Energy identified the control area, including the Barnard and Hunter River catchment areas, as having one of the highest populations of feral pigs in northern NSW. The area contains diverse and vulnerable ecosystems of woodlands, remnant rainforest, escarpment, and open grazing areas. Projects were designed to use best practice pest animal management methods, including aerial shooting, followed by a trapping campaign and ground shooting. Stakeholders included NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Armidale and Hunter Rural Lands Protection Boards, and up to 336 private landowners. Aerial shooting was undertaken in July, because winter is the most opportune season for this method. In 2008, a total of 913 feral pigs, 650 feral goats, 18 deer, and 4 wild dogs were destroyed. In 2009, 1,338 feral pigs, 900 feral goats, and 336 deer were destroyed, all of which were primary target animals. Trapping and poisoning were used to control feral pigs and an extensive ground-shooting program was put in place to control feral goats and the emerging deer problem. Monitoring of residual populations, through New England Livestock Health and Pest Authority property inspections, and assessment of damage caused by feral animals were undertaken at the conclusion of both projects. Ground trapping continues over a 4-month period, and ground shooting is ongoing and opportunistic.

Nonnative feral ungulates have both direct and indirect impacts on native ecosystems. Hawai`i is particularly susceptible to biological invasions, as the islands have evolved in extreme geographic isolation. In this paper we explore the ecological impacts of nonnative feral goats (Capra hircus) in the Hawaiian Islands, including both the current state of knowledge and future research directions to address knowledge gaps. Understanding how invasive vertebrates impact island ecosystems is important as it provides an informed context for developing contemporary solutions to pressing management problems. Current knowledge gaps, such as the behavioral ecology of goats and their impacts on specific plant species and communities, limit the effectiveness of ecological restoration and conservation in Hawai`i. Emerging technologies in wildlife tracking and remote sensing will enable a greatly improved understanding of the behavior and ecological impacts of these nonnative animals in what is already a highly degraded ecosystem.

The aim of this project was to find out the number of wild goats which are living in Serra da Capelada coastal mountains, their distribution, sex and their approximate age. The study area, about 1200 ha, is made up of coastal cliff in the northern part of the province of A Coruña (Galicia, NW Spain). In order to have a census, some observation sites were set up, and binoculars of 10/42 and a telescope of 20-60/65mm were used. The area was divided into 9 sectors which were visited in the summer and autumn of 2008. Male adults, young males, females and yearlings were seen. When the animals were at least 50m apart from each other, they were considered to belong to different herds, they were identified by distinguishing characteristics such as their fur of horns. The presence of goats was detected in 8 of the 9 sectors, which is 95% of the area being studied. Altogether 511 goats were counted, divided into 36 herds: 14.19±10.01 goats/herd, approximately 39.2±19.9 goats/km' and 2,9 ±1,7 herds/km2. Only the 7% of the goats observed were yearlings. The size of me herds was similar throughout me whole area being studied. In a sample of 23 herds (281 goats), 25% were male and 65% female. The sex ratio in me herds varies quite a lot; in those with less than S goats females prevailed. The sex ratio and the age, suggests that mere could be a stable population of goats, close to its maximum density. The sporadic capture of kids by either local inhabitants or foxes could be a factor 'o bear in mind when explaining the above-mentioned proportion. The possible expansion of the population into areas with a lesser density has not been ruled out., El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer el número de cabras asilvestradas existentes en la Serrada Capelada, su distribución, sexo y edad aproximada. El área de estudio, de unas 1.200 ha, está formado por cantiles costeros situados en d extremo norte de la provincia de A Coruña (Galicia, NO España). Para realizar el censo se fijaron puntos de observación, utilizándose binoculares de 10x42 y telescopio de 20-60x65 mm. La zona se dividió en 9 sectores, visitados en verano/otoño de 2008. Se distinguieron machos adultos, hembras y machos jóvenes e individuos del año, considerándose rebaños diferentes cuando estaban separados al menos 50 m, e identificándolos en función de características diferenciales del pelaje o de los cuernos d~ algunos individuos. Se detectó la presencia de cabras en 8 de los 9 sectores (95% del área de estudio). En total se contabilizaron 511 ejemplares, repartidas en 36 rebaños (14,19±10,01 ejemplares/rebaño), estimándose 39,2 ± 19,9 cabras/km2 y 2,9± 1,7 rebaños/km2 . El tamaño de los rebaños es similar en toda la zona de estudio. En una muestra de 23 rebaños (281 cabras), el 25% fueron machos y el 65% hembras. Los rebaños tienen una proporción de sexos muy variable, predominando las hembras en los menores de 5 individuos. Tan sólo se registró un 7% de jóvenes de año. La proporción de sexos y edad estimada, sugiere que podría tratarse de una población estable de cabras, cercana a su máximo de densidad. la captura esporádica de cabritos por parte de habitantes de la zona o por zorros, podrían ser factores a considerar para explicar dicha proporción. No se descarta la posible expansión de la población a zonas con una menor densidad

The 2008-2009 Aerial Feral Pig and Feral Goat Shooting Program aimed to reduce feral mammal infestations in the Barnard/Hunter River catchment areas, northern New South Wales (NSW), Australia, over a 2-year period, as well as to provide skills to landholders to manage vertebrate pests. By accomplishing these reductions in pest animal densities, it endeavoured to reduce impacts of feral mammals on soil and water resources and on native flora and fauna, thereby protecting ecosystems and giving benefits to the wider community. The NSW Department of Industries and Energy identified the control area, including the Barnard and Hunter River catchment areas, as having one of the highest populations of feral pigs in northern NSW. The area contains diverse and vulnerable ecosystems of woodlands, remnant rainforest, escarpment, and open grazing areas. Projects were designed to use best practice pest animal management methods, including aerial shooting, followed by a trapping campaign and ground shooting. Stakeholders included NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Armidale and Hunter Rural Lands Protection Boards, and up to 336 private landowners. Aerial shooting was undertaken in July, because winter is the most opportune season for this method. In 2008, a total of 913 feral pigs, 650 feral goats, 18 deer, and 4 wild dogs were destroyed. In 2009, 1,338 feral pigs, 900 feral goats, and 336 deer were destroyed, all of which were primary target animals. Trapping and poisoning were used to control feral pigs and an extensive ground-shooting program was put in place to control feral goats and the emerging deer problem. Monitoring of residual populations, through New England Livestock Health and Pest Authority property inspections, and assessment of damage caused by feral animals were undertaken at the conclusion of both projects. Ground trapping continues over a 4-month period, and ground shooting is ongoing and opportunistic.

Nonnative feral ungulates have both direct and indirect impacts on native ecosystems. Hawai`i is particularly susceptible to biological invasions, as the islands have evolved in extreme geographic isolation. In this paper we explore the ecological impacts of nonnative feral goats (Capra hircus) in the Hawaiian Islands, including both the current state of knowledge and future research directions to address knowledge gaps. Understanding how invasive vertebrates impact island ecosystems is important as it provides an informed context for developing contemporary solutions to pressing management problems. Current knowledge gaps, such as the behavioral ecology of goats and their impacts on specific plant species and communities, limit the effectiveness of ecological restoration and conservation in Hawai`i. Emerging technologies in wildlife tracking and remote sensing will enable a greatly improved understanding of the behavior and ecological impacts of these nonnative animals in what is already a highly degraded ecosystem.

The use of Judas goats (JGs; Capra hircits) to locate remnant animals is a powerful tool for enhancing feral goat eradication efforts, being especially important to island conservation programs. JGs are goats that are captured, fitted with radio telemetry collars and released. As goats are gregarious, JGs search out and associate with other goats. They can then be tracked down and any associated feral goats removed. JGs increase the efficiency of removing animals at low densities by reducing search time for hunters locating remnant herds. Prolonged duration or increased frequency of estrus in female JGs could potentially increase the efficiency of this method; does in estrus actively seek out and are searched for by bucks, and are more active than non-estrus does. Two experiments under controlled, farm conditions demonstrated that estrus can be prolonged by using Compudose-100 implants (one or two implants; single dose 21.1 mg estradiol 17 beta) or a single Synovex-S implant (200 mg progesterone and 20 mg estradiol benzoate). Two Synovex-S implants failed to significantly prolong estrus. Single Compudose-100 implants provided the most dramatic effect, and when combined with 15 mg PGF(2 proportional to) and sterilization by tubal occlusion provides an effective means of terminating pregnancy, inducing sterility and prolonging estrus 6-16-fold compared to sterile does and at least 82-fold compared to unaltered does, with a single intervention. Incorporating these methods into Judas goat programs will likely increase the efficiency and capability of feral goat control and island conservation. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Many diseases of livestock, such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), rinderpest, pest des petite ruminants, and maedi-visna, are exotic to Australia and contingency plans are in place to counteract their introduction. Epidemic modeling fulfills a vital role in these plans. Feral goats occur at high density with livestock in the high-rainfall zone of eastern Australia. Contact within and between groups of domestic and feral ungulates contribute to the behavior of disease in sympatric populations, and are essential parameters for epizootic models. A project in central New South Wales, Australia is investigating the contacts and home range sizes of feral goats in order to construct models for FMD transmission. Preliminary analysis has shown that contacts between feral goats and sheep were fewer than between feral goats, and that the home ranges of goats in the study were small (<2.5 km2). This paper discusses: the home ranges of feral goats in different environments; the interactions between feral goats and sheep; the potential of feral goats to maintain and spread exotic diseases common to goats and sheep; and modeling of disease transmission between feral goats and sheep.

Many diseases of livestock, such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), rinderpest, pest des petite ruminants, and maedi-visna, are exotic to Australia and contingency plans are in place to counteract their introduction. Epidemic modeling fulfills a vital role in these plans. Feral goats occur at high density with livestock in the high-rainfall zone of eastern Australia. Contact within and between groups of domestic and feral ungulates contribute to the behavior of disease in sympatric populations, and are essential parameters for epizootic models. A project in central New South Wales, Australia is investigating the contacts and home range sizes of feral goats in order to construct models for FMD transmission. Preliminary analysis has shown that contacts between feral goats and sheep were fewer than between feral goats, and that the home ranges of goats in the study were small (<2.5 km2). This paper discusses: the home ranges of feral goats in different environments; the interactions between feral goats and sheep; the potential of feral goats to maintain and spread exotic diseases common to goats and sheep; and modeling of disease transmission between feral goats and sheep.

The goat (Capra hircus) was first introduced into Western Australia (WA) over 100 years ago and since this time have been liberated and become feral. Feral goats are now found over much of the semi-arid and arid pastoral areas of the State and as uncontrolled grazers cause significant damage to the rangeland. The use of commercialisation as a control strategy to induce landholders to reduce feral goats has been used. This strategy is appealing for several reasons. It requires little government involvement from agencies responsible for pest control, resulting in low public costs. It returns immediate, tangible profits to landholders for the control effort and it utilizes the pest as a resource, making the programme more acceptable to some individuals. However, it is now clear that a commercialisation policy has not been successful in reducing overall feral goat numbers and the consequent damage. Some reasons for this include; commercialisation requires the creation of an infrastructure to handle the product; immediate economic returns from feral goats become long-term cash flows; long-term benefits are not considered; individual control is undertaken rather than co-operative programmes; feral goats are not included as part of the landholders domestic stocking rate entitlement. If such a policy is to continue it will not achieve the long-term objective of eradication. A feral goat eradication programme has recently been instigated in Western Australia by the pastoral industry. Although, commercialisation is to be used to remove the bulk of the population, such a strategy cannot be used on a long-term basis and follow-up control must be undertaken if the objective of the programme is to be achieved. The prolonged use of a commercialisation policy will result in the preservation of a species rather than the elimination of it.

The goat (Capra hircus) was first introduced into Western Australia (WA) over 100 years ago and since this time have been liberated and become feral. Feral goats are now found over much of the semi-arid and arid pastoral areas of the State and as uncontrolled grazers cause significant damage to the rangeland. The use of commercialisation as a control strategy to induce landholders to reduce feral goats has been used. This strategy is appealing for several reasons. It requires little government involvement from agencies responsible for pest control, resulting in low public costs. It returns immediate, tangible profits to landholders for the control effort and it utilizes the pest as a resource, making the programme more acceptable to some individuals. However, it is now clear that a commercialisation policy has not been successful in reducing overall feral goat numbers and the consequent damage. Some reasons for this include; commercialisation requires the creation of an infrastructure to handle the product; immediate economic returns from feral goats become long-term cash flows; long-term benefits are not considered; individual control is undertaken rather than co-operative programmes; feral goats are not included as part of the landholders domestic stocking rate entitlement. If such a policy is to continue it will not achieve the long-term objective of eradication. A feral goat eradication programme has recently been instigated in Western Australia by the pastoral industry. Although, commercialisation is to be used to remove the bulk of the population, such a strategy cannot be used on a long-term basis and follow-up control must be undertaken if the objective of the programme is to be achieved. The prolonged use of a commercialisation policy will result in the preservation of a species rather than the elimination of it.