Cliffhanger: B.C. firefighters offer helping hoof to stranded goat
Published 11:43 am Tuesday, October 6, 2026
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A Metchosin domestic goat with mountain goat-like ambitions found itself in a rather precarious situation and in need of a little help getting all four hooves back on solid ground.
The animal spent Sunday night (Oct. 4) stranded on a cliff-face ledge on its owner’s property after tumbling over the edge and finding itself unable to scramble back to safety.
To the rescue came the Metchosin Fire Department.
Firefighters and trained rope rescue technicians were called to the property early Monday morning (Oct. 5), where they assessed the scene and devised a plan to safely retrieve the unlucky goat.
“The goat had spent the night below the cliff, and the priority was to safely secure and remove her without causing further injury,” said the department in a social media post.
Crews then descended the cliff face, reaching the stranded animal and securing it before carefully lowering it to the ground.
The goat was then reunited with its relieved owner, bringing the unexpected overnight adventure to a happy and much more grounded conclusion.
Sisters Shannon Burnside and Melony Gilbert had a front row seat to the action.
“The firefighters did a lot of work to get to the cliff first of all – cutting broom the size of small trees,” said Burnside. “Once the climber got to the goat he gave her treats to make friends and was very careful and gentle while harnessing her up.
“As soon as he started his decent everyone stopped talking and breathing. There was a close call with falling rock also.”
Burnside said when the pair reached the ground there was a round of applause.
“It was such a heart filling event to witness,” she said.
The department said the rescue was a reminder of the wide range of calls its firefighters can face in the community.
“Metchosin Fire members regularly train in technical rescue skills to ensure they are prepared when people – or animals – find themselves in difficult situations,” the department said.
“Great work by our crews, and a happy ending for this little goat.”