Billy the Kid & Billy the Goat Catch the FX2 Transit Bus in Portland Oregon (No Fare Required)

PORTLAND, Ore. – (Updated 8.16.26) The mystery of the two fare-dodging pygmy goats who briefly joined Portland’s morning rush hour has a happy ending: Billy the Kid and Billy the Goat are safely back home, the gate is locked tighter than ever, and TriMet has even commemorated their 20-second adventure with T-shirts.

Security camera footage from the TriMet stop at Southeast 162nd Avenue and Division Street shows the white goats calmly trotting up during the Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, morning commute around 7:40 a.m. They followed human riders onto a green articulated FX2-Division bus, joining the ride for roughly 20 seconds before being spotted and ushered back outside. Video may be seen at: https://x.com/heatedreports/status/2088034495555321933?s=20

Bus operator Abdellah Lahouasnia noticed the uninvited guests, reopened the doors, and was briefly nervous about how they might react with other passengers. A woman inside stood up and appeared to shoo them away as other riders helped guide the pair back onto the sidewalk. Lahouasnia later quipped to passengers that the goats “don’t have a valid pass,” adding that they left quietly and safely. He rated the experience an 11 out of 10 and embraced the moment with classic Portland flair: “Of course, keep Portland weird. You would never see that anywhere in the States.”

Baa-d Passengers: Two Goats Board Portland Bus, Then Pull a Disappearing Act

The goats then wandered toward a nearby shopping center and disappeared from camera view. 911 calls had already alerted authorities to the wandering animals. Portland Police searched the area but did not locate them at the time, and TriMet reported no further sightings that day.

Owner Lrae Anderson (also known as rapper Copper Loc), who lives less than two blocks from the stop, later identified the 7-month-old brothers. The family had acquired the pygmy goats about three months earlier; they had previously wandered into neighbors’ yards but never that far. Anderson said his children sometimes leave the gate open, and the goats “will go to anything that’s green.” He didn’t even realize they were missing at first—someone (a neighbor or passerby) picked them up and brought them home the same day before he woke up. He learned of their bus adventure via news and social media.

“I seen the goats on the news, and I’m like, how the hell they do that,” Anderson said. “I couldn’t believe that they actually went across the busy street and tried to get on the bus… They got on like they’ve done it before.” He has since installed a lock and improved the fencing so “the adventurous goats are safe and sound.” The episode has inspired memes, national coverage, and even a song he’s started writing.

TriMet shared the surveillance video with humor, asking: “So where did they come from? Where were they going? Did they have valid fare? Some questions may never be answered.” Spokesperson Tyler Graf later expressed relief: “We’re thrilled that the goats have returned to their human family. Even though their attempted trip on TriMet was foiled, ending before it started, we’re honored that they chose the FX2-Division – Frequent Express. They proved that it’s the G.O.A.T. of our bus service.” The agency’s Instagram footage has surpassed 5 million views, and TriMet has released commemorative T-shirts featuring the pair.

TriMet policy still prohibits non-service animals from boarding buses unless they are in an enclosed carrier. Officials are glad Billy the Kid and Billy the Goat made it home safely after their brief, viral public-transit debut—a lighthearted distraction that continues to delight readers near and far, including those of us here in Santa Monica who know a thing or two about unexpected encounters on our own crowded streets and beaches.