Economic impact of invasive species: Loss of Income
Australia has at least 2.3 million feral goats with estimates of up to 240,000 feral goats in Queensland. Feral goats are commonly found in rugged terrain that provides safety from pursuing predators such as wild dogs and humans.
As a selective browser, the feral goat can have a profound effect on a plant community over a relatively short period.
Feral goats are regarded as pests by some pastoralists because of competition with domestic livestock for resources. Overgrazing is a major contributing factor to land degradation in the Mulga Lands of Queensland.
Feral goats, along with native and domestic herbivores, must be managed as one component of total grazing pressure. The cost of feral goats is unknown. At least $17 million is lost to the Australian sheep industry through competition between feral goats and domestic sheep.
