If you've seen my post under Family (joy or pain) you will understand that this is the pain part.

Mel's brother and SIL were here over the weekend. The goats "were" grazing on the lush weeds around the lake. One goat was crying (for no reason) but everyone had to go see why. Well Mel, Ryan and I just climb the gates. It's faster and easier. Bro and SIL had to unlatch the gates (city folk) to come see. On the way back Bro was the last one and said he'd lock the gate back. Well he didn't do a good job and those goats are sneaky critters. Yesterday when Mel went to town they escaped. Got loose in the yard. Visited the grape vines and the fruit trees and who knows what else. The dogs did seem to keep them out of the flower beds at least. Since there is so much green right now they didn't hurt anything really. Just nibbled on a few leaves. If there wasn't enough green, they'd strip the bark off the fruit trees and kill them in a matter of a few hours. Oh well, Mel came home and put them back in the pasture. I'm just glad he wasn't gone for long or they might have really had a good time munching on "forbidden foods".

Point to remember - do not trust others (especially people who don't have gates) to latch a gate that holds back sneaky goats! Even though there was plenty to eat around the lake, they seem to know when and where to wander to check out new stuff.

Luckily we just had a laugh and no damage was done.

Oh no Pat!! Thank goodness Mel wasn't too long! We have learned as well to check and double check the gates. It's funny isn't it.....we had some friends here the summer after we moved and we were out in the field with the horses and we all walked through the gate, and they didn't even look back, kept walking with gates wide open! lol....I wonder what they think keeps them in???

Too funny Calico!!!

Oh no! You can never trust "townies" to close gates!
Our two goats are more than capable of opening certain gate catches. One teaches the other very quickly! It seems that the forbidden greenery is always more inviting and tasty to them. I guess that's part of what gives goats their wonderfully challenging character! :mwhistle:

Discovered that while the goats were out, they ate quite a few of my gladiola blades. Bad goats!

I learned that about city folk the hard way as well. It's seems so common sense but is something that just doesn't occur to them. :icon_conf I don't leave visitors alone with the animals at all anymore. I run the risk of them leaving gates open but they also tend to freak the animals out. They think they are fun and interesting but don't understand the stress it causes them to have strangers (usually many) walking about their home. I don't mind them visiting the animals but put a time limit to time spent in the pen. The animals aren't used to strangers and it stresses them out.

You are so right, Margret. Our goats are immediately 'suspicious' of someone new and their bahaviour changes instantly and I would certainly never trust them unsupervised with children. They don't like the sudden darting movements and different sounds....and become quite unpredictable.
We are endeavouring to teach our grandchildren how to behave around the animals and even the chooks. To speak and move quietly etc. We think it's very important for children to learn to respect our animals and to value and appreciate their natural behaviours and traits.
Hopefully then, one day, they'll be "good" country visitors and close the gates etc! :mwhistle: