Saturna Island, located in the Gulf Islands archipelago of British Columbia, is unique for its feral goat population, which almost equals the full time residents. I witness a daily parade of goats as they pass by my home on the south facing Brown Ridge. Check out the story I wrote about the orphaned feral goat we raised and named Milli.
A grazing animal, goats have panoramic eyes that detect motion from every directions as well as rotate to stay horizontally aligned with the ground whether their heads are upright or face down in the grass.
Left to go free by early settlers in the 1920’s these goats are a mix of toggenberg, saanen, and alpin. They are an island controversy as to how to control them. I believe they need to be managed. The goats keep the invasive broom away, allow for beautiful walking trails along Brown Ridge and provide open grassland. The rare popcorn flower and other wild flowers are found on Saturna because the goats keep the grass cut. You will almost always see them on a walk along Brown Ridge.
They are my extended family!
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