This week, the famous 13 meter high Gävlebock was inaugurated for the 57th time.
Usually the goat is under threat from pyromaniacs, but this year a new threat comes from an unexpected direction. The goat risks being eaten by birds.
The reason is this year’s poor harvest and the summer’s wet weather. The rain caused the straw to lie down and therefore the grains remained on the straw. It has attracted birds who have realized that the buck is now full of food.
It has also contributed to the buck being lighter in color this year.
– It’s probably none of us could have predicted this, says Anna-Karin Niemann who is the goat’s press spokesperson to P4 Gävleborg.
Biggest concern for fire
The radio presenter and Gävle profiler, Titti Schultz, who knows the goat very well, believes that the Gävle goat will survive despite the threats from the winged creatures.
– We don’t need to be terribly worried about the goat, she says.
– I still think that a fire is something we should worry more about. I don’t think they (the birds) get the whole goat, says Titti Schultz.
The Gävlebocken was first erected in 1966, but has only survived Christmas 19 times. The last time the goat was burned down was in 2021, but last year it was allowed to remain.