Despite the name, they're not true goats but unique to North America. Pure white shaggy double-layered coats; sharp black horns in both sexes. Specialized cliff dwellers — hooves with grippy soft inner pads.

Also called: Mountain Goat, Rocky Mountain Goat

Native status: Native to western US mountains

§ Quick facts

SizeShoulder height 90–105 cm
Weight40–140 kg
LifespanWild 12–15 years
OrderArtiodactyla
FamilyBovidae

§ Encyclopedia

The mountain goat, also known as the Rocky Mountain goat, is a cloven-footed mammal that is endemic to the remote and rugged mountainous areas of western North America. A subalpine to truly alpine species, it is a sure-footed climber commonly seen on sheer rock faces, near-vertical cliffs and icy passages. Mountain goats generally avoid venturing down into lower elevations—except during seasonal food shortages or during particularly bad weather—as the extreme elevation of their habitat is the primary defense against predators such as black and brown bears, pumas and wolves.

Source: Wikipedia — Mountain goat Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Stocky white animal with shaggy coat; both sexes have short black horns; black hooves with grippy pads.

Similar species. Dall Sheep (different horn shape). Bighorn Sheep (brown).

Voice. Generally silent; bleats.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Alpine vegetation: grasses, sedges, forbs.

Behavior. Not actually a goat — unique North American bovid. Lives on extreme rocky slopes inaccessible to most predators.

§ Range

Mountain ranges from Alaska to northern Rockies

§ Habitat

Alpine and subalpine cliffs, talus, meadows above treeline

§ Threats

Climate-driven habitat shifts, hunting pressure (regulated), helicopter disturbance.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the mountain goat is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support alpine wilderness. Stay back from goats (they crave salt from urine). Support quiet airspace policies.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • American Society of Mammalogists
  • National Park Service Glacier
  • IUCN Red List 2020