WA town overrun by goats

A town in the West Australian outback has been overrun by goats.

The animals have been a common sight in the Goldfields town of Kambalda for several years.

They provide a talking point for tourists, but their increasing number is beginning to prove a headache for locals.

"The last couple of months they pretty much took over Kambalda East. About 50 of them ran out of a backyard when we drove past," Kambalda police officer Sean Graham told AAP.

"There's a fair few of them. It's turned into a bit of a running joke."

But some locals aren't joking any more, with many lobbying the Shire of Coolgardie to take on the four-legged invasion.

"When is someone going to do something about this feral problem? These goats are destroying Larkin Street gardens," one local posted on social media last week, accompanied by photographs of at least 20 of the animals.

Others from the town said the goats were "a great part of what makes Kambalda special".

Mr Graham said apart from some property damage, the goats were usually quite law-abiding.

"We haven't had reports of anyone getting headbutted or anything like that," he said.

According to the Kambalda Community Facebook page, a private company is making plans to round up the goats.