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Mountain Goat
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![[Mountain Goat]](goat.jpg) The mountain
goat (Oreamnos americanus) is the single North American
representative of a widespread group of goat-like ungulates. All are
characterized by relatively short horns and a fondness for living in rugged
terrain. Occupying the remote habitat that it does, little was known about the
mountain goat until almost 1900. Mountain goat hides had been obtained by
Captain Cook as early as the late 1700s, but he had presumed that the specimens
were of white bears, and the species was not described. |
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The mountain goat's range is restricted to the steep and broken mountain
ranges of northwestern North America and extends naturally from Idaho and
Washington to Southcentral Alaska. Mountain goat populations are scattered
throughout this range and can be found from near sea level to over 10,000 feet,
but some seemingly suitable areas are completely devoid of goats. In Alaska,
mountain goats occur throughout the southeastern Panhandle and continue north
and west along the coastal mountains to Cook Inlet. In Southcentral Alaska they
are generally confined to the Chugach and Wrangell mountains, although their
range extends into the Talkeetna Mountains nearly to Denali National Park.
Mountain goats also have been transplanted to Kodiak and Baranof islands where
they have established secure populations, to Chichagof Island where the
transplant apparently failed, and most recently to Revillagigedo Island where
they are doing well. |
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General description: Mountain goats are one of the two species of
all-white, hoofed, large mammals found in Alaska. They are often confused with
young and female Dall sheep, but are easily distinguished by their longer hair,
deeper chest, and black horns. There is a crest of long, erect hair up to six or
more inches in length along the spine, on the rump, and over the shoulders and
neck. Long hairs on the legs give the animal the appearance of wearing
pantaloons. A shaggy crop of hair hangs down from the chin and lower jaw. The
pelage is much longer in winter than in summer. Both sexes have a
crescent-shaped gland behind each horn that increases in size during the rutting
season. The appearance of both sexes is much alike except that males are
considerably larger than females. The horns of an average adult female are equal
in length to those of an average adult male but are more slender. Sexes are
extremely difficult to differentiate in the field unless the female is
accompanied by a kid. Goats are usually quite docile and their usual gait, even
when alarmed, is a deliberate pace.
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Life history: Throughout their lives mountain goats remain in or near
steep, broken terrain, a behavior pattern which most likely evolved as a means
of avoidance of predators such as wolves, bears, or cougars. Mountain goats mate
in November and December. Billies (male goats) may wander considerable distances
in search of receptive females (nannies). They do not collect harems, but some
battling occurs as males often show puncture wounds, particularly on the rear
quarters. Adult males are segregated from other age classes except during the
rut. They may form small bachelor groups, especially in summer. Females with
kids and immature animals are generally found in groups but may form larger
nursery bands in early to mid-summer. Usually a single kid is born in late May
or early June after a gestation period of approximately 180 days. Twinning
occurs rarely but is more frequent following mild winters. Kids are precocious
and can keep up with adults when only hours old and hardly larger than snowshoe
hares. Nannies seek solitude prior to giving birth but soon join other nannies
with newborn kids to form nursery flocks. Kids usually remain with their mothers
until the next breeding season. Mountain goats may live 14 to 15 years, though
most live fewer than 12. Many goats show healed wounds and missing teeth,
indicating a high incidence of accidents, presumably from falls.
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Food habits: Mountain goats are both grazing and browsing animals,
depending on the particular habitat and season of the year. They normally summer
in high alpine meadows where they graze on grasses, herbs, and low-growing
shrubs. Most goats migrate from alpine summer ranges to winter at or below tree
line, but some may remain on windswept ridges. As winter advances and the more
succulent plant species are frost-killed, the feeding habits shift to browsing.
Hemlock is an important winter diet item, but feeding habits in winter are
mainly a matter of availability
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