Characteristics of Catalina Goats: Many domesticated and feral goat species leave the onlooker surprised with their beauty and strength.
Unfortunately, these exotic goat species do not come into the limelight more often and a lot of goat lovers are unaware of them.
These goat breeds are renowned for specific personality traits or features.
One such goat species is the Catalina goat. Like some other goat species, it is not very well-known among the people, one of the reasons could be that it is not a domesticated breed.
Since most of us do not see them around or on the farms, therefore, they do not simply exist for us nor do we know anything about them.
You would not find any valuable information on the internet as well about this goat species.
However, that does not mean it is any less important, Catalina is not any ordinary goat species, in fact, it is the most prized and sought-after large goat breed with many admirers.
It is important to introduce goat lovers to new renowned and lesser-known goat species from time to time to brush up their knowledge.
Today, Catalina goat lovers would be delighted to know all about this exotic game species, so, read on. Let’s read below “Characteristics of Catalina Goats.
About Catalina Goat
If anything that makes the Spanish Catalina Goat special is their beautiful, extremely wide horns.
This unique characteristic makes them eligible for trophy hunts. It is the most sought-after game species and is hunted by many hunters.
These feral goats have gone wild and are now mainly found in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Hawaii.
This goat species, Catalina (Capra Hircus) takes its name after a domestic goat that went feral and was found on the Santa Catalina Island located near Los Angeles, California.
Catalina is in demand for a lot of reasons, their beauty, strength, and gigantic horns, to name a few. However, if it all comes down to one thing, the most prized trait, it’s got to be the beautiful horns.
A lot of hunters hunt them year-round, however, it is not easy to hunt this smart animal.
It is not a domesticated breed and lives in the wild, not many goat enthusiasts have seen it in real life.
Since it is a frequently hunted exotic game species, there is a potential threat that the population will decline in the upcoming years.
These beautiful animals have lured the attention of a large number of hunters over the years.
To hunt the trophy Catalina goat, many hunting guides are offering help. Well, we have the massive horns to blame for this increasing hunting trend.
People are paying hundreds of dollars to get help to hunt this animal.
There is more to the goat than just the horns, it is an intelligent, invasive species that can not be easily captured.
It is not the fastest goat species out there but it outsmarts the hunter with its wise escaping skills.
This exotic goat species is a whole package with the ultimate combination of beauty and brains.
Origin of Catalina Goats
Catalina goats have been around for a couple of centuries. They were first originated in the 1800s, their history is not well-recorded, so, not many goat experts know much about their journey till now.
It is widely believed that Spanish missionaries brought a handful of goats in the 1800s that are considered ancestors of this exotic game species.
That is why they are called Spanish Catalina goats because of their Spanish origin.
The goats brought to the US by Spanish missionaries were domesticated goats that mated with the feral goats over time.
This unusual mating brought us the unique, wild variety that we have today called Catalina goat.
Though it was originated in Spain it is mainly found in Texas. Other goats classified as Catalina now are Angora and New Zealand goats.
Their journey after their origin is lost to the mists of time and even experts know little.
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Characteristics of Catalina Goats
You may or may not have already heard a lot about the unique wide horns of this trophy goat.
They are mostly found in black, brown, reddish-brown, or white, other colors are also not uncommon.
Most male and female goats of this breed have beards and their outer hair is course.
Catalina Goat Horns
The stunning horns of this species need a special mention as they make an impressive trophy.
The male Catalina goats have large, wide horns that grow up and back from the head in large twists.
The horns can grow to be 20 to 30 inches tall and spread up to 30 to 40 inches.
The longest, recorded Catalina goat horns are measured at 53 inches.
Female Catalina goats are typically hornless, however, some female goats have curved cones about four to six inches tall.
Eating Habits
Catalina goats reside in hot and dry areas and primarily survive on grasses and leaves. You will mainly find them on rough and overgrazed ranches.
A large number of these goats were killed because they were destroying the natural ecosystem of Catalina Island. They do not need a lot of water to live and survive.
Breeding
Catalina goats have a year-round mating season. When the female goat is in heat, she will wag the tale to signal the males.
The female goats will be pregnant for around five months and give birth to 1-3 babies at a time, mostly two.
Size and Weight
Catalina goat can weigh between 130 to 275 pounds.
A large, adult male can weigh as much as 175 pounds whereas the female goats typically weigh less than male goats, approximately 80 pounds.
Both female and male Catalina goats are more or less four or five feet tall.
Hunting Catalina Goats
The exceptional trophy Catalina goat can be hunted all year round, there is no particular season for hunting this exotic species.
They are not the fastest and spook easily. They can disappear in a matter of seconds, so, a hunter needs to be quick and alert.
Since Catalina is so challenging to hunt, this makes it even more popular among trophy hunters. The excitement and thrill make them chase this animal.
Hunters usually pursue them on foot through mountainous terrains. A variety of hunting techniques are used to hunt Catalina such as safari hunting, blinds, or spot and stalk.
After choosing the hunting technique, select the right hunting method. Different hunting methods include Bow hunts, pistol hunts, rifle hunts, and black powder hunts.
Oftentimes, a large, powerful weapon is required due to the wide horns. When mapping out the trophy hunting plan, keep all of it in mind.
In brief, Catalina is a prized goat species hunted by many trophy hunters. Hopefully, you got all the valuable information here about this unique animal. I hope you like reading “Characteristics of Catalina Goats”.
