A huge muster operation has been rounding up feral goats to stop them munching on grape vines and rare vegetation in the Adelaide Hills, in what's thought to be the first commercial operation of its kind in the area.
Almost 1,000 feral goats have been removed after destroying endangered native vegetation and nibbling on grapes in prime vineyards.
In a three-month operation covering about 750 hectares, a helicopter and trailbikes were used to coax the goats off the steep and rugged hills around Montacute.
The goats were led onto flat ground and then rounded up into temporary yards and sold off, with the proceeds going back into land and weed management.
A follow-up aerial shooting operation removed other goats from terrain inaccessible for mustering.
Tom Brookman, the regional coordinator for grazing pressure management at the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board, said although feral goats were not well established in the Adelaide Hills, the Montacute area east of Adelaide was home to one of the largest populations.
"They're a really damaging pest in terms of both agricultural production and native ecosystems, so we like to really keep on top of them where we can and make sure they don't get established across the landscape," Dr Brookman said.
"In high rainfall areas like the Adelaide Hills it is not uncommon for a nanny goat to produce four kids in a year — populations can double in approximately 1.6 years."
Nibbling on the chardonnay
The goats are certainly partial to a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, vigneron Bob Holloway said.
His vineyard in Castambul, 10 minutes' drive to the north-east of Montacute, has been a prime target for the animals.
"They take the young shoots off, particularly if they're coming at this time of the year it's devastating, when … I've got grapes there, they enjoy munching on the grapes," Mr Holloway said.
"They're very tasty.
"It was stressful because you're losing crops, they're damaging vines, some of the vines which were very heavily grazed basically have died as a consequence the over-grazing and continual grazing has destroyed some of the vines and they have to be replaced."
Mr Holloway said he started to notice the impact of goats on his property back in 2014, and he has already noticed a difference since the muster.
"I've noticed, number one there have been very few goats," he said.
"We're feeling very positive but of course you've got to realise they breed up very quickly, their numbers can increase 60-70 per cent each year, so it's going to be ongoing."
Native plant regeneration threatened
Tucking into areas regenerating after the Cudlee Creek bushfire has been another favourite.
Dr Brookman said although the feral goats had been plaguing the Montacute area for years, the situation had worsened following the Cudlee Creek bushfire.
"It's really sensitive when it's regenerating to being grazed or browsed," he said.
"It does seem sometimes that the rarer, the more delicious [but] their reputation for eating almost anything is pretty valid."
