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Home , Mountain goat, Oreamnos

Mountain IN

Ecology, Conservation and Management

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks No other hoofed on the continent, and few outside it, are so superbly adapted to steep terrain and severe winters.

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INTRODUCTION and erosion in steep mountains have destroyed any The shaggy white ( previously existing goat fossils. An ancestor of the americanus) is in many respects a peculiar beast. This goat must have crossed the Bering land bridge muscular, plodding mountaineer is a product of the between Siberia and before the most recent ice age whose snowy colour makes it well- (Wisconsin) glaciation because adapted for escaping detection in wintry landscapes. Oreamnos fossils up to 100,000 Mountain No other hoofed mammal in , and years old have been found south few outside it, are so superbly of the glacial limit in the United have the thickest adapted to steep terrain and States. Until about 12,000 years Order severe winters. Though often ago, two of Mountain and longest pelage Artiodactyla called a “goat-,” it Goat were present in the (Even-toed ) is neither. It has no close southwest United States, of any North Family relatives in North America, O. americanus and the smaller and its closest kin in Europe O. haringtoni. As the last American (, Mountain Goat, and Asia are not very similar. Cordilleran ice sheet waned, , British Columbia is the Harington’s Goat became extinct except the Thinhorn Sheep) heartland of Mountain Goats and O. americanus moved north Genus and contains more than half to the snowy mountains it Musk Oxen. Oreamnos of the world’s population. favours. The universally white But because of its lofty, colour of the Mountain Goats suggests that the species Species remote haunts, it is the least evolved for thousands of years in close association americanus familiar of our hoofed with snow and ice. (Mountain Goat) (ungulates). Adult males (billies) weigh on average 70 to 120 kg, adult females (nannies) 55 to 75 kg. Both sexes EVOLUTION AND APPEARANCE have thin, black stiletto-like horns up to 30 cm long. The closest old world relatives of the Mountain Goat These grow throughout life and are never shed. – the , and – are not particularly Growth rings on the horns (annuli) indicate age. Male similar to it and and female goats provide few clues look similar, but the to its origins. The horns are slightly main likeness is their different. Nannies’ relatively short, thin, horns are more sharply pointed slender at the base horns, which are and a bit more permanent and curved toward the almost the same in tip than those of both sexes. But there billies. Behaviour the similarities end. can also provide a The lineage of the good clue to gender. Mountain Goat is Lone adults and obscure, mostly those in groups of because glaciation two or three with L. Tooze no accompanying kids or yearlings are usually billies; DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE if the social group contains kids, the adults are almost In British Columbia, goats are present in most certainly nannies, unless it’s the mating season. mountain ranges except for those on Vancouver The Mountain Goat is built to live in steep, rocky Island, the Queen Charlottes, and other coastal terrain. Its forequarters are disproportionately massive islands. They exhibit a wide tolerance for climatic in relation to its compact rear end. Its deep chest and conditions, from tidewater along coastal inlets to the tremendously developed shoulder muscles give the Continental Divide and from the arid Similkameen Mountain Goat great strength for climbing and for valley to the Yukon border. Though mostly confined pawing through snow for food. Because it has to prominent mountain ranges, some Mountain Goats relatively short legs that are close together, and a occur along river canyons cut centre of gravity that is close to the ground and well through plateaus – for In British forward, it can travel on example, the Stikine Canyon. narrow ledges with limited According to recent Columbia, goats footing. The goat’s PRINTS estimates, the number of hooves have rough-textured Mountain Goats in North are present in most traction pads that project America has varied from about slightly past the rim of the 75,000 to 100,000. This mountainous hooves and make them number includes 14,000 to highly specialized for rocky, 15,000 in the western states, ranges except for slippery terrain. Also, its 10,000 to 25,000 in Alaska, toes can spread widely to about 50,000 in British those on Vancouver distribute its weight over Columbia, and small numbers more ground and close pincer-like around rocky in , Yukon, and Island, the Queen projections to provide extra traction on downhill slopes. Mackenzie Territory. During Mountain Goats have the thickest and longest the 1900s, and particularly Charlottes, and pelage of any North American ungulate except the from 1950 to 1975, goat Musk Oxen. The goat’s bearded chin and the long numbers declined in many other coastal hair of its upper legs, which looks like pantaloons, areas, primarily because of add to the goat’s distinctive appearance. Its winter over-hunting. Recent hunting islands. coat consists of coarse hollow guard hairs up to 20 restrictions and reintroductions cm long and very fine, interwoven underfur that is have largely reversed that trend. In British Columbia, 5 to 8 cm long. This enables goats to withstand the goats are more numerous in the northwest part of most severe wind chill. Billies shed their winter coat the province, but substantial populations occur by early July and nannies somewhat later. Even the throughout the main chain of the Rockies and in the summer coat is warm, however, and the goats seek Coast, Cariboo, Selkirk and Purcell ranges. out cool, shady spots in hot weather. Heat stress may determine the southern limit of the Mountain Goat’s LIFE HISTORY distribution. Mountain Goat society consists of relatively small bands that change in composition frequently. These bands interact daily, often antagonistically. Except during the mating season, nannies live apart from the billies with their kids and yearlings, but often not far away. Nannie groups, also called nursery bands, 100 0 100 200 km usually average about four or five, but many increase to 15 to 20 or more after kidding. Billies often live PLENTIFUL alone or in groups of two to four. Both groups have MODERATE a well-developed dominance hierarchy or pecking FEW order based on size, strength, and experience. Goats ABSENT are not territorial in the sense of defending an exclusive piece of , but they defend a small personal space around them Most females breed for the first time when they are two years old. Males are physiologically capable of Billies always mating at that age, too, but winters, occasionally over 50 percent; therefore it older, dominant billies do most seems likely that unusually deep and persistent snow, behave of the most successful breeding. which covers forage, saps energy reserves, and delays The mating season, or rut, peaks spring green-up is the major reason some goats submissively in late November and early don’t survive. December. In the weeks leading toward nannies up to it, the billies stop eating, ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS engage more often in ritualized In British Columbia, Mountain Goats occur in both out of respect for threats, dig urine pits where they wet and dry regions and at various elevations, but the wallow and soil their coats, and terrain is always steep. Coastal and interior goats their dagger-like follow adult nannies (at a safe usually remain at low elevations in spring in order to distance). Billies always behave take advantage of the earliest flush of green vegetation. horns. submissively toward nannies out As spring progresses into of respect for their dagger-like summer, they follow the Most winter ranges horns. Only during estrus (heat) will the nannie allow development of new billies to approach closely and to engage in the growth upward, taking are steep sites which ritualized low-stretches, lip curls, nuzzling, and kicks advantage of its most that precede actual mating. nutritious early stages. shed snow and After a gestation period of six months, nannies retire In summer and early fall, to secluded, precipitous ledges to give birth to their 3 most goats graze at and have a south to west kg kids in late May or early June. A single birth is the above the timberline, rule, and up to 40 percent of mature nannies may not where they favour lush exposure which favours produce any offspring. Twins are rare. Goat kids start alpine swales and boulder to climb within a few hours and follow their mothers meadows beside steep solar warming. across broken terrain within four or five days. They cliffs. Some may migrate suckle often in the first few days but soon begin to a few kilometres between winter-spring and summer graze on tender plants. After four months, they nurse ranges, but many seasonal migrations are just local infrequently. Goat mothers are exceedingly attentive, shifts in elevation. and the mother-infant bond is strong until the next Most winter ranges are steep sites that shed snow kid is born. and have a warm south to west exposure. Along the Mountain Goats keep growing in size until they coast, winter ranges are invariably at low elevations are about four years old and seldom live longer than because at high elevations, the deep, heavy snow is 12 years. Forty to sixty percent of kids die in their first not readily blown away to expose forage and because winter, and many yearlings also die in their second near sea level, snow is much shallower in depth or winter, probably from starvation. Accidental losses even absent. Goats often winter on cliffs that rise from falls and avalanches are more significant for goats directly from the beach. In the interior, where snow than for other ungulates, but they are not a major is usually shallower and drier and high winds are limiting factor. Predators like and frequent, goats winter on cliffs at varying elevations, occasionally ambush an unwary stray goat, and eagles including high windswept ridge crests. In mid- to late knock a few kids winter the snow at high elevations often develops a from cliffs. But firm crust because of strong winds and cycles of because of their thawing and freezing. This allows the goats to walk alertness, preference on top of the snow and travel more widely in search for steep terrain, of food. and ability to use Goats can’t afford to be choosy about what they eat their horns against because their foraging sites tend to be widely would-be attackers, dispersed, small in size, and sparsely vegetated. They goats are less survive by eating a wide variety of plants, including susceptible to , , grasses, herbs, shrubs, and deciduous predation than most or coniferous trees. No other hoofed in North big game . America is so versatile. Goat diets vary considerably Mortality rates are from place to place; in dry regions, they eat mostly KIDS ARE PRECOCIOUS AND FOLLOW highest in severe grasses and in wet areas, woody browse. Their food THEIR MOTHER SHORTLY AFTER BIRTH. David F. Fraser habits also change with the seasons. Herbaceous material are prominent in the late spring and summer diet; in winter, they eat woody twigs and lichens. Mountain Goats are strongly attracted to mineral licks in summer, especially interior herds. They often travel several kilometres downslope through forest to reach them. Many licks are on cliffs along incised river valleys, but some are simple clay pits where the goats may linger for up to three weeks, apparently to satisfy their craving for sodium and other minerals that are in short supply in lush spring vegetation. The Mountain Goat has successfully adapted to a narrow, extreme niche where it can avoid competition from other herbivores and predation by large carnivores. Goats share their lofty haunts amicably with a few non-threatening alpine specialists like marmots, pikas, and ground MOUNTAIN GOATS OCCUPY THE MOST RUGGED AND REMOTE OF ALL NORTH AMERICAN UNGULATES. K. Brunt squirrels, but few predators can negotiate goat terrain. However, Golden Eagles, which nest on Although public access to goat country is not high mountain cliffs, are a constant threat. The easy, people who can get there can see them fairly specialized rocky niche of goats also prevents serious easily because of their white colour and their competition from livestock and wild ungulates. preference for largely treeless terrain. The viewing , , Caribou, and Mountain Sheep sometimes of goats undoubtedly contributes to British graze with goats on alpine-subalpine meadows near Columbia’s ecotourism industry and its reputation cliffs, but they don’t normally affect the goats’ food for wilderness. Certain populations are already supply. Goats frequently encounter other hoofed managed for viewing, for example along the animals at salt licks, where they often chase deer Similkameen valley between Hedley and Keremeos, away but may be displaced themselves by Elk. where goats are visible from the highway in winter and spring. Goats are most visible in spring (April VALUES AND USES to June) when they are at low elevations, but even First Nations people, especially on the coast, then, binoculars or a telescope is advisable. Likely have made use of goat products for eons. They locations include the Duffy Lake Road-Seton Lake ate goat meat, made ceremonial spoons and other area, Robson Ridge beside lower Arrow Lake, implements from the horns, and wove blankets Mount Broadwood near Elko, along highways and rugs from the fur. Some coastal people still through and Mount do this kind of weaving. Interior tribes reputedly Robson Provincial Park, and the north side of fashioned the incredibly thick hide of the goat’s the lower Skeena River valley. People on summer flank into armour for deflecting arrows. Even packhorse or hiking trips into remote alpine areas though native people hunted in Cathedral, Ts’y-los, Wells Gray, or Mount First Nations Mountain Goats, goats were Assiniboine provincial parks are likely to see goats apparently abundant when in spectacular alpine settings. people, particularly the first Europeans arrived. Sport hunters prize CONSERVATION on the coast, have Mountain Goats, and Because Mountain Goats today, limited sport hunting are widespread, numerous, made use of goat provides much-needed and stable in most areas revenue to government of the province, they are products for eons. for enforcement and habitat not considered at risk and enhancement programs as have been included in the well as employment for guide-outfitter operations 1998 Yellow List by the BC in remote areas. Conservation Data Centre. Their security is partly due to their preference for rugged, remote habitats. This has shielded them from developments that have harmed many other wildlife species – land settlement, competition from livestock, highways, logging, and hydroelectric reservoirs. Mining disturbance has had an effect on localized sites, and logging can affect coastal Mountain Goat winter ranges as well as the fringes of interior goat winter ranges and low-elevation licks. In general, the places goats choose are not in high demand for other uses. However, unintended harassment of goats by helicopters has been a concern, particularly during the kidding season and in winter when the animals are in the poorest condition. Snowmobiles are also a concern in some areas. Changing travel routes and careful scheduling of disturbing activities can resolve these problems. Between 1950 and 1975, hunting seriously reduced some British Columbia goat populations, This was a period of great expansion of logging, mining, and other access roads that vastly improved access for THE SECURITY OF MOUNTAIN GOATS IN BC IS PARTLY DUE hunters (and poachers) to remote valleys. During TO THEIR PREFERENCE FOR RUGGED, REMOTE HABITATS. that era, an increase in the number of hunters and Leah R. Ramsay the introduction of liberal hunting regulations into previously occupied ranges. In addition, resulted in declines in the number of goats in the controlling of helicopter flights, motor vehicle access, lower mainland, the east Kootenay, and the south snowmobiles, and human recreational activities may Peace regions and a few other locations. Sport be necessary in some locations. These measures, and hunting for goats is more difficult to manage than a little respect, should ensure the future of the hunting for most other big game species because Mountain Goat, surely one of British Columbia’s goats are visible, unwary, and vulnerable when in most unusual mammals. cliffy terrain. Goats have a low reproductive rate and do not readily repopulate ranges after they have been BROCHURE FUNDING PROVIDED BY removed. Also, because all adult goats have similar sized horns, the establishment of male-only hunting seasons is impractical. Recognizing these difficulties, the Wildlife Branch has instituted closed seasons, limited entry hunting, guide quotas, improved inventory programs, and more rigorous enforcement of regulations. More conservative management programs in the 1980s and 1990s have stemmed the earlier declines and resulted in herd increases This project was funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund that in some areas. was created by an act of the legislature to preserve, restore, enhance and Some goat populations depend on winter ranges acquire key areas of habitat for fish and wildlife throughout British where wildfires create early seral vegetation. In recent Columbia. Hunters, anglers, trappers and guides contribute to the Trust Fund enhancement projects through license surcharges. Tax deductible years, forest fire control has made many of those donations to assist in the work of the Trust Fund are welcomed. habitats less productive for goats. Allowing some wildfires to run their course and enhancing goat range PROJECT COORDINATION: IAN HATTER, GAIL HARCOMBE, LIZ STANLAKE, ARLENE BETHUNE through prescribed burning would help the recovery ORIGINAL TEXT:DONALD A. BLOOD of goat populations. Future needs also include regular ARTWORK: MICHAEL HAMES monitoring of goat numbers, careful control of DESIGN: ARIFIN GRAHAM, ALARIS DESIGN DISTRIBUTION MAPS: ADAPTED FROM RBCM HANDBOOK hunting and poaching, continued protection of BY ALARIS DESIGN habitat, and possibly some reintroduction of goats © PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 2000 MELP 851541.0300