I say “new-found” as mountain goats are not native to Colorado, nor were they ever.  They are only indigenous in the continental US in the Cascades in Washington, as well as parts of Idaho and western Montana, though introductions in various states have vastly spread the population.  It is theorized that the species originated in the eastern Himalaya and Mongolia many thousands of years ago, and eventually migrated over the Bering land bridge to establish a population in North America.  These goats have evolved to become the only of their kind in the entire world, interestingly closely related to antelope and gazelle in their evolution. 

Their introduction to our mountains began in 1947, with the last being brought in 1972, the intention of said introduction being a new type of game for hunters.  While their healthy growth in numbers has certainly satisfied the need of the original intent of the introduction, with numbers in Colorado now in the thousands, it is debated as to whether the introduction has been good for the overall environment, as they carry disease that has helped to diminish the numbers of native bighorn sheep, and some populations have been known to devastate indigenous plants due to their hardy appetites. 

“Locally”, the largest population can be found atop Mt Evans (now re-named Mt Blue Sky), one of the original introduction locations being at Summit Lake about 2,000 feet below the summit.  A small population is considered established in Rocky Mountain National Park, and there have also been scant sightings of lone goats in our own Indian Peaks back yard.  While I have yet to encounter any here, I have found tufts of their thick coats strewn around Brainard Lake in the very early opening season and know that they have been seen occasionally on Niwot Ridge as well as recent sightings and photos in the last couple years higher up.

Mountain Goats have an insatiable desire for salts and minerals which has led to a very strong sense of ease around humans.  Not only have they acquired a taste for salts derived from human sweat (from people hand feeding them), but also from human urine found near trails.  This has evolved into them not only being generally unafraid of humans, but also uninhibited in approaching humans, sometimes in an aggressive manner.  While attacks are rare, they can certainly happen, and with their sharp horns, can cause severe injury or even death.  As with any wildlife, it is best to maintain a safe distance from them (50 yards recommended) and haze them with yells and shouts if pursuit ensues.   In some cases, specifically atop Mt Evans, that can be a challenge as the herd tends to frequent the parking area at the summit not only for grazing territory but also because they greatly enjoy licking the cars of their dirt and “salt” build-up, which is not healthy for the animals as Colorado uses Magnesium Chloride as a road de-icing agent, a substance toxic for consumption.

The adorable very newborn twins in the image were observed a few years ago during a wonderful afternoon and evening spent at the top of the world watching the babies at play.  While the day was spent with the majority of the herd and newborns that were a bit older by at least a couple weeks, as the day was winding down a lone mama appeared with these two in tow.  Mother casually took her evening graze while these two alternately romped and rested, guessing only a few days old themselves and not yet ready to join the others in their play (note that they were safely photographed from a good distance with a telephoto lens, and even then, the image is tightly cropped to give the appearance of a close-up).  While quite new to the world, they showed a good bit of confidence in their surroundings as they played, and even showed a brief bit of curiosity at the strange human with the big eye lying on the ground watching them.  A visit a few weeks later found them fitting in quite well with the rest of the year’s little ones, bringing a total of seven babies to the herd.  Again, quite a treat to enjoy observing as they romped among the rocks playing King of the Hill as they began to establish their hierarchy in life on the mountain.

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

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While they are a rodent between the size of a hamster and a small gerbil, they are closer related to rabbits than other species in the family.  They are unique in that they live mostly above treeline, with a few exceptions if they find a place that is cool enough all year long.  Not only do they live and thrive in one of the harshest environments on the planet, they also do not hibernate like their larger marmot neighbors.  As opposed to storing up fat reserves, they spend their late spring through early fall storing up their food supply.

Like the marmot, they can often be heard before they are seen, as they live in colonies with almost always at least one or two perching atop a rock keeping watch for predators and giving a shrill cry in the event of possible approaching danger.  Blending in quite well with their surroundings, I find it is easiest to use peripheral vision and look for movement, as they spend much of their day gathering their winter stores.  You will find them dashing to and fro among the rocks foraging for grasses and tiny tundra flowers which they bring back to their dens to lay out in the sun to dry out to prevent molding.  They interestingly also partake in a bit of thievery, as often they can be seen raiding a neighbor’s “stash” while it is out on another foraging run.

Being that they live in an area that tends to be cold for much of the year, they have a very thick coat of fur to provide warmth, including on the bottoms of their feet.  This also sadly puts them in a precarious position, as they don’t shed to the degree that other mammals do, and absolutely require cooler temperatures to survive.  This means that as we get deeper into climate change and rising average temperatures, these little ones here in Colorado have no place to go to survive if things heat up too much.  They are already disappearing in a few places in the country and may well be the first creature in North America to face extinction solely due to climate change.

The next time you happen to be in the high country, keep your ears and eyes out, as it is quite likely you will enjoy a bit of demure entertainment as these little wonders make their way about their day, making hay!

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

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These tiny fuzz-balls can be quite amusing to watch as they frolic and play among the rocks.  From May through July babies will be born and can be observed in their playful antics in many canyons and peaks throughout the mountains.  They sometimes even pretend to square off and rub heads, seemingly like their fathers who are famous for their charging and bashing of heads during the rut season in the fall.  Like many wild babies, they have a lot of energy and often succumb to the “zoomies”, spontaneous bursts that cause them to run and hop about with no apparent provocation, quite hilarious and adoravle to observe.

It’s always a pleasure to see these newest members, knowing that the species as a whole in Colorado has had an unsteady population level since the early 1900’s.  Initially their numbers dwindled drastically due to the influx of diseases carried by domestic wildlife as well as over-hunting.  The 1940’s brought some of the first relocation projects, taking sheep from healthier herds that lived further away  from domestic animals in attempts to encourage a rebound in ill-affected herds elsewhere in the state.  Those efforts have continued intermittently ever since, as while hunting is now well regulated, they are still largely impacted by sickness from domestic sheep that can decimate large numbers in a band.

While we don’t enjoy their presence in Boulder or Gilpin county, these amazing animals can be found in a few different locations, all within about an hour to an hour and a half away.  South of Estes Park enjoys a small band and Rocky Mountain National Park is home to a band that can be seen around Sheep Lakes in the spring as well as a few rams that wander along Trail Ridge Road throughout the summer.  Big Thompson Canyon east of Estes Park on the way to Loveland has a larger band of about 70 or more that can be found along the road or high up on the canyon walls nearly year-round.  Mt Evans southeast of Idaho Springs hosts a small band that shares space with the mountain goats at the summit in the summer, and another larger band can also be found in Waterton Canyon in the foothills southwest of Denver. 

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

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