[1] They first arrived on San Clemente from Santa Catalina Island, in 1875, and there they remained feral until the United States Navy, which was under a directive to preserve the endangered flora and fauna of the island that were threatened by the grazing of nonendemic species,[2] sought their removal.
After initial trapping and hunting failed to eliminate the goats, the Navy began a shooting program to exterminate them.
This was blocked in court by the Fund for Animals,[3] which asserted the goats did not hurt any endangered species, and thought the Navy was using this claim as an excuse.
[4] Goats were put up for adoption on the mainland by the Clapp family and by the Fund for Animals.
[5] San Clemente Island goats are small, fine-boned, and deer-like.