Some Range Relationships of Feral Goats on Santa Catalina Island, California

Abstract

Some aspects of forage production, utilization, and percent cover were studied on Santa Catalina Island from July 1971 through April 1973. Food habits of feral goats (Capra hircus) were examined in December 1974 and May 1975. During May 1975 herbaceous vegetation comprised 92% of the diet of the goats. It was proposed that goats are not primarily browsers by preference, but are opportunistic generalists and tend to consume the most palatable vegetation available. Significant vegetational differences are found between adjacent goat-inhabited and goat-free areas of the island. It was concluded that precise ecological knowledge is needed to properly manage both domestic and feral goats.