Deep snowpack may be driving them to lower elevations
Olympic National Forest closed a trail near Hoodsport after several encounters this week with aggressive goats on the Mount Ellinor Trail, says an article today in the Seattle Times.
“Nobody has been hurt by the goats. But a number of people have felt threatened,” said Stephanie Neil, recreation manager for the Hood Canal Ranger District of Olympic National Forest.
“Wildlife biologist Kurt Aluzas said the goats may be on the trails because of this year’s deep snowpack. Goats are also drawn to hiking trails seeking salt, and nanny goats may be aggressive protecting their young.”
Deep snowpack. In July!
“In October 2010, an aggressive goat killed a Port Angeles man in Olympic National Park. That goat was killed by a ranger.”
See entire article:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018609980_apwaaggressivegoats2ndldwritethru.html
6 Responses to Aggressive goats force closure of Olympic National Forest trail
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Love goat meat. Doesn’t have the after taste of mutton, a lot leaner than most beef. Very similar to the camel I ate in Iraq. When prepared right it is incredible.
Let people take side arms into the National Forests and you won’t have these problems with introduced species.
sheesh, what DO they pay park staff for there?
I had to join the paper to suggest they feed the damn goats and place salt licks in NON walk track areas.
really the solution to make the goats happy and people safe is easy enough.
Most people living in the city just don’t know how dangerous wild animals are.. They think of wild animals as nice and lovely. But a wild the larger wild animal will kill you in a blink of a eye. SoCal has a problem with coyotes in urban neighborhoods. But the local governments won’t do anything about the problem. Anything you go into a National Forrest you need to take a firearm to protect yourself from the nice and loveable wild animals.
Just so we all understand, we aren’t talking about little Billy Goat Gruff that took on the troll under the bridge.
These Mountain Goats only live in the US and are huge! Can weigh as much as 300lbs(140kg). They are not true goats they just look like giant versions of the barn yard variety. They are not native to the Olympics. They were introduced as a sport species back in the 1920′s. We can’t hunt in National Parks but that would keep the population in check. As far as I know there are no natural predators on the Olympic Peninsula to keep these guys in check. Most black bear and cougars give them a wide berth. Don’t know what the wolf population is like out that way. The Parks Dept have been trying to get rid of them for years but the locals like them (so do I but they do need to be kept in check).
I wonder if Hurricane Ridge will open at all this year?
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Oreamnos_americanus.html
curious critters indeed, rather than Caprine..they are related to cows.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Oreamnos
Species: Oreamnos americanus