Video captures moment hundreds of goats run riot on streets of Californian city in lockdown

San Jose resident said they spent some time cleaning-up goat mess afterwards

Quarantined residents in one Northern Californian neighbourhood were surprised this week when almost two hundred goats stormed through residential streets after breaking free.

The goat herd, many of whom seemed unaware of social distancing measures or California’s stay-at-home order, packed the streets of San Jose on Tuesday evening.

Zach Roelands, a 23-year-old resident, recorded the goats running down one street as he returned home from shopping.

“This is the craziest thing to happen all quarantine,” wrote Mr Roelands on Twitter, where he shared the video which has now amassed 3.5 m views.

The goats, he told USA TODAY, had broken free from a cordoned off area on a hill behind Mr Roeland’s home, where the herd have grazed routinely for the past 12 years.

The San Jose resident explained that the goats spend two to three days on the hillside to clear grass and vegetation, which is prone to wildfire.

“The goats have come for the past 12 years but this was the most entertaining they’ve been,” said Mr Roeland.

On Tuesday the goats advanced through Mr Roeland’s neighbour’s fence, with an apparent eye on garden plants.

“Eventually they escaped into the street and started eating all the plants in ... everyone’s front yard,” said Mr Roelands to USA Today.

Residents watched as the herd ran down streets in the town, and caused some damage to plants.

According to the report, the goats were herded-up in minutes, and did not appear to disturb any residents, but “everyone had to spend the next hour or so picking up their poop”, Mr Roelands added.

He explained: “The goats are actually pretty scared of humans, it seemed like”.