B.C. family comes home from vacation to find a goat has moved in - Action News
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British Columbia

B.C. family comes home from vacation to find a goat has moved in

In a case of bleat and enter, Tanya Mould and her family arrived home in Prince George, B.C., to find their detached workshop was a mess. The culprit turned out to be an unknown goat who had moved in while they were away and showed no signs of wanting to leave.

'It just walked out like it owned the place and it hasn't left since,' Tanya Mould said of goat named Gordo

A goat on its hind legs with its front legs on a barbecue.
Tanya Mould says the goat has been living in the family's shop but has made several attempts at coming in the house. (Tanya Mould)

Tanya Mould has had stray cats on her property, but nothing prepared her for a stray goat moving in, in what might be called a case of bleat and enter.

On Wednesday, the Prince George, B.C., woman arrived home with her family from a vacation to Mexicoand noticed their detached workshop was a mess.

Since they live rurally, the family thought maybe a moose or deer had gotten in and destroyed some things.

But when they noticed some sort of animal chewing on plastic covering one of the shop windows,Mouldcautiously opened the door, and the culprit revealed itself to be an unknown goat who had moved in while they were away and has shown no signs of wanting to leave.

"It just walked out like it owned the place and it hasn't left since," Mould said.

WATCH | Who's the G.O.A.T.? 'Gordo'takes control of new home:

Goat refuses to leave after moving in while family vacations

1 year ago
Duration 1:40
While Tanya Mould and her family were on vacation in Mexico, a goat moved into their detached workshop in Prince George, B.C., and refused to leave.

The shop door swings open onto the inside, so it's easy for an animal to let itself in without being able to get out again. But that doesn't seem to bother the goat, which keeps returning to the shop "like he's taken it over," Mould said.

At first she thought friends were playing a prank on her, but no one took responsibility.

She's posted the animal's picture on online pet networks but so far, no one has claimed it as their own.

Although Mould's parents briefly had a goat when she was very young, "I am not a farmer in any way," she says.

"I'm pretty sure it knows it, too...I'm terrified of goats, actually."

Social animal

But the goat isn't terrified of the family it has apparently adopted as its own.

Itattempted to follow them into the house several times and even started climbing through an open window using a snow bank.

Though they aren't sure if it's male or female, the family has nicknamed itGordo, for ease of reference.

A goat eats hay.
The goat the family has named Gordo munches on some borrowed hay. (Tanya Mould)

Goat farmer Katrina Hall, who lives in the nearby community of Vanderhoof, says based on the behaviour described, Gordowas likely raised to have a close relationship with humans.

"They're very herd oriented," she said. Her guess is the goat was recently sold to a new owner and decided it didn't like things there, so attempted to go home before settling in with the Mould family.

"It was probably used to being in the house or someone's shop or barn," she said.

"At that point, they're very human oriented."

Hall said it looks like a mixed breed. Mould just describes Gordo as "huge."

Looking for a home

Goats are also opportunistic eaters, meaning they can survive on just about anything that could be edible, which explains how it was able to survive on its own.

Mouldborrowed some hay from a neighbour to feed Gordo letting the goat out of the shop, which it continuously returnedto after doing rounds ofthe property. Mould says she has not yet had the courage to assess the damage inside.

A goat looks at a car.
Gordo bids farewell to CBC News. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC)

She is still hoping an owner comes forward.

While her 10-year-old son is keen on keeping the pet, Mould says she won't be swayed: "Absolutely not," she said.

Instead, on late Friday Gordo was moved to a farm by an experienced owner while the search for his home continues.

Already, she says, the house and yard is quieter.

"I kind of miss his shenanigans already,"

"Not enough to want a goat, though."

A goat trots.
Mould says the goat trots around their property and shows no sign of wanting to leave. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC)