Heading into the high-elevation wonderlands of Utah's mountain ranges this summer can be an exhilarating escape, but it's not just the thin air that might take your breath away; you might just find yourself in the company of a mountain goat. According to Rusty Robinson, Once-in-a-Lifetime Species Coordinator with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, these sure-footed locals, boasting specialized, rubbery hooves for navigating cliffs, inhabit regions like the Uinta Mountains and Tushar Mountains, with around 1,500 scattered across the state, as reported by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Now, on the matter of these cliff-climbing critters, their hooves are not like the hard ones of other big game animals, but rather they're more rubbery, which allows them to grip the rocks and they also have a seasonal wardrobe update, shedding their thick winter coat as the mercury rises, according to a statement from Rusty Robinson. The goats are not shy when it comes to picking a meal, dining on grasses, flowering plants, the occasional shrub, and enjoying some mossy lichen.
And while these creatures are more the quite-retained sort, don't expect them to send RSVPs for summer picnics, they're surprisingly particular about personal space. Particularly when nannies are with kids, they can get territorial, forming nursery herds that graze in meadow areas where food is abundant during the nurturing months, Robinson illuminated in the same interview. Males, or billies, can turn aggressive in rutting season, come November, whereas the nannies are protective during summertime after giving birth in late spring.
So, for high-elevation hikers and backpackers planning to share these scenic spots with the resident goats, here's the rundown: keep a 150-foot berth to avoid any goat-related grievances, if you spot one sharing the trail just back it up and give 'em room, dogs should be leashed because legally they can't be chasing wildlife, for your safety don't let your pet provoke them, and if one starts getting closer, throwing in some arm waves and loud noises the idea is you're not here to cuddle, according to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. And, most importantly, don't even think about feeding them, no one wants to be on the pointy end of a "friendly" goat horn.
