Mountain Goat
Oreamnos americanus
size/weight/height
Weight: 101-308 lbs.; males 10-30% larger than females "
Head/Body Length: 48-64" " Tail Length: 4-8"
adaptations/coloration
Color: fur white to yellowish-white " Beard: present " Hooves:
hard sharp rim encloses soft inner pad (well suited for climbing
on rocks) " Horns: both sexes " Midline Hair: long & soft; forms
hump or ridge " Undercoat: undercoat thick/wooly " not a true goat
behavior
Climbing: climbs/jumps easily in rugged terrain " Bedding: may excavate shallow depressions for bedding " Food: browse; graze " Groups: congregate at salt licks; large groups may form in winter in protected areas; in summer groups disperse into small bands " Movement: may cover several 100 meters daily; down slope movement occurs in autumn " Personality: males & females seem to indifferent toward each other except when breeding; animals sometimes clash over food; don't butt heads
reproduction/life span
Life span: male 14 yrs. record in wild; female 18 yrs. " Mating: Nov-early Jan " Gestation: 147-178 days " Birth: late May-early June; single births most common; twins not uncommon; triplets very rare; young able to follow mother in 1 wk " Maturity: both sexes ~30 mos.
diet
herbivore " Wild: grass; herbs; lichen; mosses; woody plants; salt licks are very important " Zoo: alfalfa; grain; pelleted feed
habitat/range
steep slopes/cliffs in alpine/sub-alpine areas " mountainous regions from SE AL & SW Northwestern Territories (historical range)
other
introduced to CO, central Montana, Black Hills of SD; Hells Canyon National Scenic Area in Oregon; Olympic National Park in Washington, Kodiak; Baranof, & Chicago Islands of AK " Mt. Goats destroying native habitat in areas where they've been introduced.
oregon zoo exhibit