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San Clemente Island Goat

Capra hircus · also called San Clemente Goat, SCI Goat

A critically endangered American heritage breed descended from a feral population on San Clemente Island off California, distinctive for its deer-like, fine-boned build and tan-and-black coloring. It is hardy, agile, and kept chiefly for conservation.

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Quick facts

Size	Small and fine-boned; does ~18-24 in (46-60 cm) and ~50-60 lb (23-27 kg), bucks slightly larger. A small heritage goat.
Lifespan	12–15 years
Social needs	group
Native region	United States
Family	Bovidae
Genus	Capra

Part of the Goat breeds

Recognized goat breeds — selectively bred for type, purpose, and appearance.

Alpine Goat Angora Goat Arapawa Goat Boer Goat British Alpine Cashmere Goat Golden Guernsey Kiko Goat Kinder Goat LaMancha Goat Myotonic (Fainting) Goat Nigerian Dwarf Goat Nigora Goat Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) Goat +10 more →

Habitat & space requirements

From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.

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Minimum

Pair + browse + climbing

2+ goats / 0.25 ac dry-lot + 3-sided shed + 5 ft fence

Goats are herd browsers — keep at least two with climbing, browse, minerals, and clean dry shelter. San Clemente Island is a critically rare heritage feral breed — conservation priority.

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Recommended

Rotational paddock

0.5 ac per goat + barn + rotation

Rotational paddocks reduce parasite load; barn for kidding/shelter.

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Ideal

Pasture + working farm

1+ ac per goat + barn

Managed pasture + browse, parasite + hoof + breeder schedule. San Clemente Island is a critically rare heritage feral breed — conservation priority.

Life & growth stages

How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.

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Newborn

Newborn mammals are nursed on their mother's milk. Many are born helpless — blind, deaf, and sparsely furred (altricial, as in dogs, cats, and rodents) — while others stand and follow within hours (precocial, as in hoofed livestock).

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Juvenile

After weaning, juveniles grow quickly and become increasingly active, playful, and independent. Adult coat, proportions, and (in many species) the permanent teeth come in as they approach full size.

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Adult

Adults reach full body size and sexual maturity, with the species' mature coat and build. Sexual dimorphism — differences in size, mane, horns, or markings — is pronounced in some mammals and subtle in others.

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Senior

Senior animals show aging signs such as graying fur, reduced activity, and a greater need for veterinary monitoring of joints, teeth, and organ function. Lifespan and the onset of old age vary widely by species and size.

Habitat & enclosure

Pasture, browse, or scrub with a dry, draft-free shelter and secure fencing; as a small agile breed it needs tall, well-maintained fencing and is an efficient forager on rough ground. Provide a run-in shed, clean water, mineral feeder, and shade. They are alert and somewhat shy, so calm handling and good pen design help. Keep in a herd for security and welfare.

Diet

Browse, scrub, and pasture make up most of the diet; this thrifty breed does well on modest forage. Supplement with grass hay when browse is short and offer loose goat minerals with copper and selenium. Keep grain low to prevent obesity and urinary calculi in wethers. Provide constant clean water.

Behavior & temperament

Primarily a conservation and heritage breed, also valued for brush control and as hardy small homestead/pet goats; not bred for high dairy or meat output. San Clemente goats are alert, agile, and relatively reserved, but tame with consistent gentle handling. Sociable herd animals that should never be kept alone.

Health

Hardy and parasite-resistant from feral origins, but extreme rarity (one of the most endangered livestock breeds) makes preserving genetic diversity the paramount welfare issue. Conservation breeding tracked by The Livestock Conservancy and the San Clemente Island Goat Association/registry is essential to avoid inbreeding. Otherwise standard care: FAMACHA parasite monitoring, copper/selenium supplementation, hoof trimming, and CD&T vaccination.

Tips, DIY & hacks

Register and breed through the San Clemente Island Goat Association and coordinate with The Livestock Conservancy to maximize bloodline diversity in this critically endangered population. Use patient, low-stress handling and bottle-raise kids for tameness. Their browsing skill suits brush and weed control. Provide secure tall fencing for these agile jumpers and trim hooves every 6-8 weeks.

Sources

The Livestock Conservancy — San Clemente Island Goat (conservation)
San Clemente Island goat — Wikipedia (encyclopedia)