Mountain Goats

The National Park Service considers mountain goats to be an exotic/non-native species to Yellowstone National Park.

  • Look up – a long ways up to try to see mountains goats, as they tend to stay above the tree line.
  • Mountain goats can be seen in the northern sections of Yellowstone National Park, most often on Sepulcher Mountain, outside of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Overview
Mountain goats were introduced for sport hunting outside Yellowstone National Park in the Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains Range and they have been making their way through the high peaks in the northern part of the park.

Mountain goats have distinctive beards and long, warm coats to protect them from cold temperatures and biting mountain winds. Their dazzling white coats provide good camouflage on the snowy heights. During the more moderate summer season goats shed this coat.

Interesting Facts
Mountain goats are not true goats—but they are close relatives. They are more properly known as goat-antelopes.

The cloven hoofs of mountains goats make them well suited for climbing step, rocky slopes. They can often ascend mountains that have a slope of 60 degrees or more.  Dewclaws on the back of their legs also help to keep them from slipping.

Mountain goats are powerful but nimble and can jump nearly 12 feet in a single bound.

Mountain goats are the largest mammals found in high-altitude habitats, which reach elevations of 10,000 feet or more. Mountain goats usually stay above the tree line.

True herbivores, mountain goats eat plants, grasses, mosses, and other alpine vegetation.

Best Places to View Mountain Goats
Look up – way up among the rocky outcroppings, ledges and steep mountainsides in areas in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park. Sometimes mountain goats can be spotted on Sepulcher Mountain, outside of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Respecting Wildlife
Mountain goats often appear at precipitous heights displaying climbing abilities that leave other animals, including most humans, far below.

Due to their propensity to literally “hang out” far above the “maddening crowd” of humans in Yellowstone, there is very little chance for interaction between the two species.

However, be aware of the possibility of mountain goats crossing roads to get to and from water.

As with all wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, stay at least 25 feet away. (Actually if you are able to get that close, you must be repelling down a cliff!)

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