Two hikers were stunned to find a Rocky Mountain goat on Mount Hood.
Jackson Smith and his friend were backpacking on Yocum Ridge Trail on July 27 when they spotted the animal, according to KOIN 6.
‘I heard some rock fall along the ridge to our north and looked up to see this Rocky Mountain goat about 30 to 50 yards away from us,’ Smith told the news outlet.
‘We were both completely shocked but stayed still and silent as the goat began its descent down the ridge towards the Sandy River below.’
Rocky Mountain goats, the rarest game mammals in Oregon, are more common in the eastern part of the state and the Central Cascades.
Jackson Smith and his friend were backpacking on Yocum Ridge Trail in Oregon when they spotted a Rocky Mountain goat
Smith described the experience as ‘completely amazing’ and said that he and his friend were stunned to see the goat.
‘My friend and I were completely shocked and in awe at the sudden appearance of the goat, pinching ourselves as neither of us were aware that there were goats on Mount Hood,’ Smith said.
Mount Hood National Forest spokesperson Raven Reese told KOIN 6 that Rocky Mountain goat sightings on Mount Hood are rarely confirmed to be true.
‘We don’t have an established population and are not working to reintroduce them,’ Reese said.
‘Any goats seen are likely dispersed or vagrants from established populations elsewhere.’
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Rocky Mountain goats in Oregon are the result in efforts to reintroduce it to the area.
‘We have had a few different lone mountain goats on Mount Hood for the last several years,’ spokesperson Michelle Dennehy told KOIN 6 News.
‘One [goat] has been sighted near Mount Hood Meadows or Timberline several times this summer.’
She added that the Rocky Mountain goats that were spotted on Mount Hood were ‘likely migrants’ from Mount Jefferson or various areas of Washington.
Rocky Mountain goats are the rarest game mammals in Oregon, and are more common in the eastern part of the state and the Central Cascades
Mount Hood National Forest spokesperson Raven Reese told KOIN 6 that Rocky Mountain goat sightings on Mount Hood are rarely confirmed to be true
Rocky Mountain goats usually live up to 15 years in the wild, and are known for their white coats, dark horns, and strong bodies, according to the Alaska Wildlife Alliance.
Male Rocky Mountain goats can weigh up to 280 pounds and, as adults, have thin horns with a bent tip.
Female Rocky Mountain goats usually weigh up to 180 pounds, and their horns are the same length as those of a male.
Outdoorsmen could possibly spot these animals eating plants in their habitats that are occasionally 13,000 feet above ground.
These goats must watch out for animals like wolves, mountain lions and bears, according to the National Park Service.
They may appear friendly from a distance, but Rocky Mountain goats can hurt or kill when they feel threatened.
Rocky Mountain goats usually live up to 15 years in the wild, and are known for their white coats, dark horns, and strong bodies
Although they have not been spotted as often in Mount Hood as in other places, they are not an endangered or threatened species.
Some things that can impact the Rocky Mountain goat population include weather and wildfires.
Severe weather conditions during the winter has been called one of the most ‘impactful factors’ of the goat’s well-being by the Alaska Wildlife Alliance.
Avalanches caused by heavy snowfall are dangerous for all Rocky Mountain goats due to their living in high altitudes and occasionally result in their deaths.
Wildfires are just as dangerous due to the damage they can do in winter ranges, and decrease the amount of food sources for them.
Other issues impacting the Rocky Mountain goat population are hunting, disease, and climate change.
