Two hikers were stunned when they saw a Rocky Mountain goat on Mount Hood.
Jackson Smith and his friend were backpacking on the Yocum Ridge Trail on July 27 when they spotted the animal, according to KOIN-6.
“I heard some rocks falling on the ridge to the north of us and I looked up and saw this Rocky Mountain goat about 30 to 50 yards away from us,” Smith told the news outlet.
“We were both shocked, but remained still and silent as the goat began its descent over the ridge to the Sandy River below.”
Rocky Mountain goats, the rarest 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 the Yocum Ridge Trail in Oregon when they spotted a Rocky Mountain goat
Smith described the experience as “completely amazing” and said he and his friend were stunned when they saw the goat.
“My friend and I were completely shocked and awestruck when we suddenly saw the goat. We had to pinch ourselves because neither of us knew there were goats on Mount Hood,” Smith said.
Raven Reese, spokesperson for Mount Hood National Forest, told KOIN 6 that sightings of Rocky Mountain goats on Mount Hood are rarely confirmed as true.
“We don’t have an established population and we’re not working on reintroducing them,” Reese said.
‘If we see goats, they are likely to be dispersed or vagrants originating from established populations elsewhere.’
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Rocky Mountain goats in Oregon are the result of efforts to reintroduce the goat to the area.
“We’ve had several lone mountain goats on Mount Hood over the years,” spokesperson Michelle Dennehy told KOIN 6 News.
‘A [goat] has been observed several times this summer near Mount Hood Meadows or Timberline.’
She added that the Rocky Mountain goats spotted on Mount Hood were “likely migrants” from Mount Jefferson or various areas in Washington.
Rocky Mountain goats are the rarest wild mammals in Oregon and are more common in the eastern part of the state and the Central Cascades
Raven Reese, spokesperson for Mount Hood National Forest, told KOIN 6 that sightings of Rocky Mountain goats on Mount Hood are rarely confirmed as true
According to the Rocky Mountain goats, they typically live to be about 15 years old in the wild and are known for their white coat, dark horns, and strong bodies. Alaska Wildlife Alliance.
Male Rocky Mountain goats can weigh up to 300 pounds and as adults have thin horns with a curved tip.
Female Rocky Mountain goats typically weigh about 180 pounds and their horns are as long as those of a male.
Outdoor enthusiasts may see these animals feeding on plants in their habitats, sometimes as high as 4,000 meters above the ground.
According to the National Park Service.
They may seem friendly from a distance, but Rocky Mountain goats can hurt or kill if they feel threatened.
Rocky Mountain goats typically live to about 15 years in the wild and are known for their white coats, dark horns, and strong bodies.
Although they are not spotted as often on Mount Hood as in other places, they are not considered an endangered species.
Factors that can affect the goat population in the Rocky Mountains include weather and wildfires.
The Alaska Wildlife Alliance lists extreme winter weather conditions as one of the factors most “impactful” on goat welfare.
Avalanches caused by heavy snow are dangerous to all Rocky Mountain goats because they live at high altitudes, and can sometimes be fatal.
Wildfires are just as dangerous because of the damage they can cause in the winter and the reduction in food sources for the fires.
Other issues affecting the Rocky Mountain goat population include hunting, disease, and climate change.