A herd of 16 feral goats has been causing havoc in the small New Zealand town of Blackball by roaming through the streets and eating their way through backyard gardens. Screen capture/Radio New Zealand/YouTube

BLACKBALL, New Zealand, March 4 (UPI) -- A herd of goats has begun roaming the streets of a small New Zealand town, causing havoc throughout the area.

The 330 residents of the small town of Blackball have reported that the herd of 16 goats hide at night and destroy gardens during the day.


"They just come through and wreck everyone's garden," Murray Malloch of Grey District Council animal control told the New Zealand Herald. "They eat it and then move on to another one. Everyone said they're lovely goats though."

Malloch told Radio New Zealand that locals have become sick of the goats, but he is waiting for someone to claim ownership of the animals before taking actions to have them removed.

The goats have lived in the area for several years and are believed to be the product of several escaped pets breeding together.

"I spoke to several people and they said 'Yes we did have goats Murray, but we lost them' and I presume that they're part of this mob," he said.

Malloch said a local man has offered to hunt the goats for their meat, and if the goats remain unclaimed they'll unfortunately be killed.

"Either someone has to put their hand up or I'll put it in the hands of a couple of local guys that are shooters. If they come on to their properties they'll eliminate them -- they'll shoot them," he said.