HAWAIʻI
UNGULATES
Ungulates of Hawaiʻi
2
2
Feral Goats (Capra hircus)
Range: Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi
Region of origin: Europe
Date of first introduction: 1778 (Niʻihau), ~1778 (Hawaiʻi island)
Average size: 25 kg to 55 kg
Litter frequency: 1 to 2 per year
Litter size: 1 to 2 (twinning common)
Home range: Female - 13.3 ± 4,7 km , Male - 40.0 ± 7.9 km
Diet: Indiscriminate plant generalists
References: Tomich 1986, Chynoweth et al. 2015
Identifying Markers
Physical Appearance: Short, coarse coats, in varying colors (black, brown, white, or mixed), small to medium in size (60–120 lbs), short and upright tail and ears, often with a noticeable beared.
Tracks (Footprints): Two-toed cloven hoof prints, about 1 to 2 inches long (more pointed than pig tracks, with narrower spacing).
Scat: Droppings are small, round, dark brown or black pellets, about half an inch long, clustered in piles.
Browsing Damage: Plants may appear stripped of leaves up to roughly 4 feet high, distinctive from pigs (which root) and deer (which nip stems clean).
Paths and Trails: Well-worn, narrow trails on steep slopes, cliffs, and ridges.
Environmental Impacts
The feral Spanish goat thrives in steep, rocky terrain in Hawaiʻi, where few other ungulates can reach, making them particularly destructive to remote and fragile ecosystems. Their intense browsing habits strip vegetation down to bare soil, eliminating groundcover and preventing native plant regeneration. This overgrazing leads to rapid erosion, landslides, and the loss of soil stability, especially in dry and coastal ecosystems that are already vulnerable. Feral goats also damage culturally important plants and contribute to the spread of invasive species by disturbing the soil and creating conditions unfavorable for native flora.