Two goats that have become a tourist attraction in Steep Rock, Man. may soon be grazing on.
For the last few years the goats, Hopper and Gonzo, have spent their summers lazing in the sun and meeting tourists on their namesake island – Goat Island – in the community, located about 209 kms northwest of Winnipeg on the east shore of Lake Manitoba.
But the pair’s days on the island are numbered, according to a Facebook post from their owners.
“The famous Steep Rock island goats, Hopper & Gonzo, are for sale,” reads the post added to Steep Rock Kayak’s Facebook page Tuesday.
“Due to complaints filed by some locals and local cottage owners, Hopper & Gonzo will be seized (at the) end of the month.”
In June Steep Rock Kayak’s owner Peter Hofbauer told Global News he brought the goats to live on the island a few years ago, not realizing they would become such a tourist attraction.
Originally, he’d intended to have the goats keep walking trails on the island trim, but the pair instead became a destination for kayakers and paddlers visiting the community.
“I would say the majority of people coming now from the city, they’re coming to see the goats on the island,” Hofbauer said at the time.
“They paddle out here and see the goats and have a really fun unique experience.”
Manitoba Sustainable Development declined an on-camera interview, but said the goats must be removed by July 31 if Hofbauer hasn’t received authority to use Crown land for grazing.
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This stemmed from a public complaint that Manitoba had addressed other unauthorized uses of Crown land in the area but was allowing the goats to remain without permission.
Steep Rock Kayak’s Facebook post says the goats are for sale “either for pets or meat.”
Amanada Artimowich, Economic Development Officer for the RM of Grahamdale, is trying to help Hofbauer keep the goats on the island.
“It brings people to the area, which is a fantastic boost for our economy. It’s become such an incredible attraction, he’s done such an incredible job. When people hear there are goats on the island in the middle of the lake, they’re fascinated. It’s pretty amazing,” she said.
Artimowich worries about the loss in tourist income if the goats disappear.
“We will definitely see a hit,” she said.
“There are people that come specifically to see the goats and to see the island. That’s not to say there isn’t lots to do and see in Steep Rock and on your way up there, but I think we are definitely going to see a decline in the amount of tourists coming through and the amount of money we are seeing come through our economy.”
An online petition called Save the Steep Rock Goats, set up since the Facebook post went up, had 680 signatures as of noon Thursday.