An escape artist goat who went missing for months has returned to his herd in what rangers are calling a “Christmas miracle”.

MacGyver had been on the run from the Kent Wildlife Trust site at Wouldham Common in Rochester, near Blue Bell Hill, for three months before reappearing on Thursday (December 12).

The Old English goat’s disappearance was first noticed during a headcount on September 14 that saw only 14 of the 15 animals present.

His keepers believe he had jumped out of his pen to reach trees and bushes on the other side and for around three days he was spotted grazing on the vegetation.

The rangers tried to entice him back using his favourite food, sugar beets, and by lowering the fence so he would re-enter.

But the “stubborn” but “friendly” middle-aged goat, named after the wily protagonist in 1980s TV show MacGyver, refused to come back and vanished on the fourth day.

The team of seven volunteers who work at the site searched nearby woodland but he was nowhere to be seen and it was feared MacGyver had fallen into a quarry.

However, last week the hardy animal suddenly reappeared with his herd.

Ellie Edmondson, trainee wilder grazing ranger for Kent Wildlife Trust, was the first to spot him.

She said: “We check the herd every day to make sure they’re all present and in good health and to my utter surprise, the count had increased by one—there was MacGyver, standing right next to his brother.

“They spent a good 10 minutes staring at each other as if catching up on all that had happened before resuming their normal routine. It’s such a relief to have him back where he belongs.

“We were all pretty upset when he went missing and would often go looking for him on the off-chance we might find him.

“To have him back safe and sound is the best festive gift we could ask for – you might even call it a Christmas miracle.”

Ellie called up Kent Wildlife Trust ranger Jessica Allam who “couldn’t believe” he had returned after “fearing for the worst”.

She told KentOnline: “He has earned his name now as he definitely hatched a plan to get out and to get back in.

“We don’t think he has escaped before but we don't know if he's jumped out at night and come back in.

“We are just hoping his brother is not taking lessons from him and that he isn't talking to a couple of goats at other sites.

“MacGyver is like the saying ‘stubborn as an old goat’. It's very difficult to get him to do what you want him to do.

“But overall, he's a really friendly goat and he's very inquisitive. We're glad to have him back.”

MacGyver is perfectly adapted to the landscape, being able to find food and water on his own, and returned no worse for wear.

The herd is tasked with naturally controlling dominant plants and scrub through grazing, helping to enhance the reserve’s chalk grassland.