Feral goats are becoming an increasing problem in national parks in far-western New South Wales.

More than 5,000 were removed in the first half of this year, up slightly on last year.

With the NSW pest management strategy due to be released in the coming months, tourists are hoping something can be done to drive the hordes of goats out of the parks.

The Mutawintji National Park is known for its Indigenous cave art, outback lagoons and dry creek beds but feral goats are increasingly becoming part of the landscape. outnumbering indigenous animals.

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Steven Coushutt is camping in the park with his family and says it is disappointing to see so many goats.

"We just did a walk into the countryside, and there was lots of goats everywhere." he said.

"I would say at any point whenever you stopped and looked around you could see goats.

"You don't feel as if it's a natural environment you're staying in."

But it is not just the look of the park the goats are destroying.

They also cause soil erosion and can carry diseases like footrot.

Park manager John Holcombe says the feral animals are eating their way through Mutawintji's grasses, leaving much-loved native animals hungry.

"The existence of goats there is threatening the populations of that yellow-footed rock wallaby, and it's the only population in New South Wales," he said.

Last year more than 9,000 goats were removed from the park by National Parks contractors, and then fattened up and sold to abattoirs.

Mr Holcombe says that figure has increased this year.

"Well to the end of July, so for half the year, 5,544 goats removed," he said.

"We're removing a lot of goats, but there's still obviously a lot of goats there."

But Mr Holcombe says efforts can be hampered by neighbouring landholders, who can get good prices by farming the goats themselves.

"We are working with the neighbours as best we can, but it's also a resource for them, so they may not want to get rid of them all."

Critical priority

The New South Wales Government's new pest management strategy is due to be released in the next few months.

In a draft, removing goats from Mutawintji is classed as a critical priority.

One thing the goats do not eat is the purple-flowering Paterson's Curse.

The poisonous weed is a problem over much of New South Wales, spreads quickly and crowds out native plants.

Mr Holcombe says it is probably even harder to remove than the goats.

It is just one of several pests that have flourished with heavy rains in the area that was drought-stricken for so long.

Park management is also looking at ways to reduce foxes.