Goats fight on hiking trail in Alpstein

On a hiking trail in the Alpstein, two white goats fight a bitter fight for their position in the herd. While unsure hikers continue walking, an expert explains.

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In a wooded area in the Alpstein, between the Bollenwees and the Sämtisersee, a hiking trail leads through a longer wooded area. In the middle of the forest there is a ringing noise all around and a few curious goats peer out from behind the trees at the passing hikers. They tend to avoid visitors. Two goats, however, don’t let themselves be disturbed by hikers or even dogs on this morning. In the middle of the path they stand and fight.

Again and again they stand on their hind legs and then ram the head of the other goat with their head. A hiker remains unsure: «Why are these goats fighting? Doesn’t that look like bucks?” She finally avoids the scramble of the goats. A trail runner also slows down: “You have to be careful, you never know what’s on their mind when they’re fighting.” While the hikers walk on in amazement, “Elvira” and the other goat, whose name was not evident, engage in a real turf war.

Turf battles on the trail are normal

“With goats, such fights are completely normal,” says the President of the Appenzell Innerrhoden Goat Breeding Association, Beni Hollenstein from Brülisau:

“Goats have a fixed hierarchy in their herd: if it is posted by a goat, then there will be a fight for the position.”

It is not uncommon in the Alpstein for the otherwise rather clever and shy animals to give themselves nothing and fight in the middle of a hiking trail. Confused hikers are advised to keep quiet and keep dogs on a leash. The fighting goats do not pose a threat to hikers.

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