On Monday October 11, Warrumbungle National Park rangers took to the sky for an aerial shooting operation in an effort to control goat populations. 

The operation is part of the park’s integrated pest management program, mitigating the toll that goats take on the landscape.

In Western NSW alone, goats are thought to have an impact on 94 threatened and endangered species. 

Unwelcome intruder: feral goats are responsible for a significant amount of damage in the Warrumbungle National Park.

Warrumbungle National Park Ranger Blake McCarthy says that left uncontrolled, goats pose a real threat to the park, eating whatever they set their eyes on. 

“They have a big impact on other animals that occupy the same space. They damage vegetation, compete with native animals, and disturb habitat. 

In particular, the protection of the brush-tailed rock wallaby is a priority in the park, which is facing a decreased population. 

While Monday was a successful day in the air, the recent rains cut short what was planned as a three-day operation.

This week's mission by the Park Air helicopter to cull feral goats in the Warrumbungle National Park was cut short by stormy weather. PHOTO: NSW National Parks

As the National Parks service helicopter Park Air travels the region tasked with similar missions, local rangers may not see another opportunity to finish the operation anytime soon.  

“It’s really rugged country and the goats love getting up there in the cliffs and up on top of the rocks and ranges. It’s pretty hard to get them out any other way than by air,” Mr McCarthy said. 

While they don’t take kindly to goats, Warrumbungle staff are looking forward to a new type of visitor, as travel around the region starts to open up. 

Mr McCarthy says the park has remained relatively quiet since lockdown ended but is hopeful that will change when regional travel is available to Sydneysiders. 

“It would be really nice to start seeing more people out and about in regional areas. I think that’s one of the things a lot of the regional communities enjoyed last year, when people weren’t allowed to travel overseas,” said Mr McCarthy.