A wild goat that ’terrorised’ a Garff resident was shot by a marksman.

The 23-stone (146kg) animal is not the only one that has met such a fate, it was confirmed this week.

The feral goat population in Garff is believed to be on the rise and has seen a number of the animals venturing into areas they are not welcome.

One of the area’s MHKs, Daphne Caine, said there was a lot of affection for the wild goats that have become a well-known feature in the area between the Dhoon and Laxey.

But she told Tynwald: ’The issue I think at the moment is that they seem to be increasing, and certainly I have heard of a householder who was terrorised by a goat and did contact a marksman.

’When the goat - a very aggressive, territorial billy goat - was shot, it was found to be 23 stone and it was riddled with ticks.’

Mrs Caine asked Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot if any measures were being taken to control the goat population.

Mr Boot, who agreed that anecdotal evidence suggested the wild goat population was on the increase, said the department had no powers to control the goats except when there was a ’notifiable disease outbreak’.

In terms of wildlife conservation, the goats had no protection under the 1990 Wildlife Act.

’A landowner who has any issue with their presence on their land can control them on their land by humane means,’ Mr Boot said. ’Indeed, some landowners do shoot them to reduce the numbers on their land.’

Mr Boot said any householder troubled by the goats could contact the department, who could put them in touch with someone to carry out ’controlled methods’. In terms of animal welfare, he said, the Manx SPCA would be worth contacting.

One Laxey resident who frequently receives visits from goats is Joanne Clague.

She said: ’I see it as part of living near the headland, where I think there’s always been a big wild herd.

’I’ve never seen them come right down into the village.’

Mrs Clague added: ’They run away if we send the dogs out, but they are big creatures - twice the size of my Labradors - nothing like the domestic goats you see on farms, and I’m always a bit wary when I come across them.

’We had one recently who circled the house for a few days, trying to head butt his way inside. He was a big old ram, who it turned out was dying.

’A vet came and put him out of his misery.’

In the past, farmers in the area have complained that the goats have damaged fences, allowing domestic livestock to escape.

Former MLC and police chief inspector Dudley Butt, whose grandparents farmed in the area at Skinscoe, said: ’When I was a boy the goats were pure white, about 20 in total.

’Now they are all colours, and much bigger than the original goats so I suspect that more have been introduced to the herd by people dumping unwanted pets there.

’You rarely saw them in the fields, and never on the road, and they were mostly confined to the cliffs between Skinscoe and Laxey harbour.’

The Manx Wildlife Trust says: ’European mountain goats are not native to the British Isles, yet a small population that escaped from a private collection have made successful use of the steep cliff sides and dramatic terrain of the coastal strip north of Laxey, near Dhoon Glen and Bulgham Bay.

’Their numbers have grown steadily over the years, and are now so numerous that an observant spotter can get good views of them clinging to their precarious cliff ledges as he or she rides the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas to Ramsey.’