Goats are notoriously difficult to contain with a fence and many escape from farms to become feral. Feral goats have long been considered a pest and feral goat control began as early as 1914. Government funding for feral goat control started in 1924. Goat control is still an ongoing issue for landowners and the Department of Conservation today. Feral goats are found throughout the Bay of Plenty with the highest infestations in the eastern Bay of Plenty catchments.
Goats eat a wide variety of vegetation.
Feral goats are commonly found in native forest where their continual browsing of the understorey hampers forest regeneration. By destroying the smaller shrubs, goat browsing opens up the forest floor to create a habitat more suitable for possum and less suitable for native animals like the kiwi. Goats can also destroy plants which help to hold the soil in place in both the forest and on hill country. When this vegetation is removed soil erosion is increased. Goats can also damage areas of exotic forestry by browsing the young trees and strip barking the older trees.