Residents in the east of Echuca have been struggling to ward off wild goats causing chaos in the residential area.
The goats normally reside in the forest behind Pakenham St, Echuca, but have been venturing to nearby properties and causing damage in the yards.
One resident, Ray Cross, said the goats had caused hundreds of dollars of damage on his land.
“These goats have been wrecking our electric fences, eating our trees, pulling branches down and they’re going into our front yard and eating my new fruit trees that I’ve just put in,” he said.
“I just put in brand new electric fencing in the back and they have ripped it all out, its about $500 worth of electric fencing and if they keep eating the trees they’re going to get ringbark and it will kill them.”
Mr Cross said he was concerned about the threat the wild goats posed to children in the area, too.
“They have huge horns and if you try and get close to them they’ll try and charge you, which we’re worried about because there’s kids as well — my grandchildren live there.”
Residents have tried to contact authorities, including Parks Victoria, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and Campaspe Shire Council, but the issue has not been dealt with.
According to council, its local law officers can respond to requests when animals are on roads or public spaces but are not authorised by law to investigate wild animals on private, crown or other government land.
Council recommended contacting Agriculture Victoria for more information regarding invasive animal control.
According to Agriculture Victoria, pest animals in suburban areas are a matter for the local council, as feral or wild populations of goats are established pest animals under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CALP Act).
More information on invasive animal management can be found on https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-animals/invasive-animal-management/integrated-feral-goat-control