Goats evacuated from Murrells Inlet island as Tropical Storm Ian nears SC coasts

Caroline Williamson

Crews evacuated seven goats from “Goat Island” at the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk ahead of Tropical Storm Ian on Thursday morning.

Tropical Storm Ian is expected to make landfall along the southern coast Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Horry County could see winds gusts up to 60 mph, and areas with the strongest winds could experience power outages and downed trees, according to the latest weather forecast.

While most in the Myrtle Beach area are preparing for Tropical Storm Ian as it nears the South Carolina coast, the goats were not as keen to leave their summer home.

The goats on Murrells Inlet’s Goat Island were evacuated from their island home on Thursday in advance of Hurricane Ian which is expected to begin battering the South Carolina coast early Saturday. It took over an hour for a crew of volunteers to round up the tribe of seven goats that typically live on the island across from the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk during the summer and moved to an inland farm in the Winter. Sept. 29, 2022.

After an hour and a half-long standoff with the goats, crews were able to cart the animals off the island and to a nearby inland farm.

Express Watersports, a jet ski and parasailing company, helps out with the evacuations a couple of times a year, according to employee Devin Barlow.

“We kind of do it as a favor,” Barlow said.

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“Goat Island” is a small piece of land located near the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk, right in front of Drunken Jack’s, a seafood restaurant. Al Hitchcock, owner of the goats and Drunken Jacks, said he tries not to evacuate the goats too often.

Goats have been living on the island during the summer months since 1982 to control undergrowth. The animals have obstacles for climbing, as well as a covered shelter for rainy days.

Around Thanksgiving, crews will once again have to round up the goats onto the waiting pontoon boat to return to their inland farm for the winter.

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