A Maine goat was mistaken for a screaming woman, and authorities were called to the scene to respond to the craziness. They didn’t find what they expected.
When concerned residents in Etna, Maine, called authorities about what sounded like a woman screaming in distress, police rushed to the scene expecting the worst. What they found instead was Simon, a particularly vocal Nigerian dwarf goat who apparently has a flair for the dramatic. This case of mistaken identity highlights just how some human-like animal sounds can be, and why Simon’s neighbors might want to invest in some good earplugs.
Animals make the strangest sounds
Whether you’re hiking in the wilderness and spending the night in the forest or walking around your neighborhood, some of the sounds that animals can make are strange and alarming. Some animals sound like they are ready to attack when all they’re trying to do is attract a mate, while others can sound much more human-like and mimic people in the sounds that come out of them. Screaming goats are known around the world, but not all species scream and make crazy noises; but apparently, one goat makes sounds like a screaming woman.
An urgent call that turned out better than expected
An urgent call to 911 alerted the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office of a woman screaming around 8:30 pm on Saturday August 30. This could have meant any number of things going wrong with the woman who was screaming, which meant police had to respond quickly. The urgent call turned out to be a Nigerian dwarf goat that sounds human with screams that were loud. This Maine goat was mistaken for a screaming woman, but thankfully, there wasn’t a woman being attacked, just a goat with a lot to say.
A sigh of relief
Although this Maine police goat call turned out to be nothing more than a vocal goat named Simon who had a lot to say, it was a bit of a waste of time for the police. Still, this funny police call required a response, and thankfully, nobody was actually in distress, just a goat with a lot to say, even as police arrived on the scene. This was the case of a goat with mistaken identity, or at least that can be part of the running joke regarding this goat and what police found, which was much better than a woman in distress, especially considering the volume and tone of the screaming goat.
Owners tell the story
Some animals make sounds like humans screaming, and Simon the Nigerian dwarf goat happens to be one of them. This goat is located at Oak Shade Farm and owners reported that the goat had been shouting a lot that day. It had been screaming at the void, for apparently no reason at all, but that sound is extremely similar to the sounds of a woman screaming in distress, which can be very annoying.
As officers began looking for the screaming woman during the night, they were walking along the railroad tracks near the farm, where they could hear the shouting. The screams were traced to the farm, and owner Devon Hawes took officers to the barn to meet Simon. Once the officers realized the goat was making all the noise, the case was quickly closed. Hawes stated the goat simply seems to have a lot to say, and it’s not really possible to make them be quiet; and that the goat will be silent when it wants to.
What are Nigerian dwarf goats used for?
The Maine goat that was mistaken for a screaming woman is of a breed that is useful on farms in the United States. Nigerian dwarf goats are one of two miniature goat breeds commonly found on US farms. This breed is used for making milk because they produce large amounts of milk. They can have horns and often have two to three color combinations in their fur.
These goats are also known for their graceful appearance and gentle nature. That means Simon might be a bit of an outlier in the group. In fact, the owner commented that the neighborhood where they live is pretty quiet, except for their farm and Simon the goat. Thankfully, there wasn’t actually a woman in distress, and the neighbors who called in the problem could probably use some earplugs, although it is good to know that they were willing to call the police and offer help where needed; in this case, it’s a goat that has a lot to say.
Emily Thompson