There is a goat that lives alone on a peninsula on the Tennessee side of Dale Hollow Lake. Apparently, finding the goat is a big thing to do and when you do find the spot, that you’re lucky enough to see him.
As it turns out, Butternuts comes out at the same time almost every day. He’s out between 4:30 and 6:30. My guess would be that this is about the time many boaters start heading back in to the marina so they can get ready for dinner. Many of them will stop by to see Butternut and toss him food.
One noticeable feature about Butternuts is that he has one prominent horn and one really gnarly one. I don’t even want to think about how it got that way. But what really stands out – and it’s probably how he got his name – is his… ahem…gigantic goat balls. I don’t know what goat testicles are supposed to look like, but this guy has a mondo pair. While we were visiting with the goat, you could hear people on other boats yelling about how big his balls are.
I can’t help but wonder where Butternuts is the rest of the day. Is there a Mrs. Butternuts? Little Butternuts? No one has seen any other goats with or without BN, so it’s hard to say. I can imagine him going back into his woods and getting together with other lake forest critters that entertain people in other coves. They’re bragging about the food they were tossed and plotting out their next appearances like they were characters at Disney.
Now, I don’t want any crap from the animal lovers. I was just a passenger on a boat and was taken to see the goat. Butternuts is well fed, cared for, gentle as can be, and most of all, loved by the people of the lake. He even has his own Facebook page. I was kinda hoping to see him ram this one guy into the water. Didn’t happen. Maybe next time. See you next year, Butternuts!