Concern has peaked surrounding the Rocky Mountain Goat and its increasingly aggressive behavior and environmental impact in Olympic National Park, Washington State.
In Olympic National Park, the mountain goats have no problem approaching and even chasing park visitors—they have learnt this may lead to a reward despite National Parks advice against feeding and interacting with the animals. Now, the unabashed goats and their aggressive behavior is again causing problems for park management.
Officials at the national park are again facing a delicate balancing act to determine life or death for these reigning kings and queens of the mountain.
In 2010, a hiker died from a goat attack. The hiker was protecting his wife and a friend from the aggressive goat, but was fatally gored as he tried to move it out of the area. The goat had severed some arteries in his thigh and stood over his body, delaying medical assistance, reported the Seattle Times.
New guidelines were introduced following the fatal incident, and in 2011, park officers shot and killed a goat that was behaving aggressively in a camping area, according to an AP report.
Mountain goats are often attracted to people and campsites, craving the minerals and salt that is lacking in their alpine environment. They have learned to find it in sweat on backpacks, clothing, and reportedly, urine.
It seems that the goats are wearing out their welcome as park visitors discover that their yelling, waving arms or clothing, or throwing rocks—as advised by the National Parks Service—leaves the goats increasingly undeterred.
