Mountain Goat Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum Common Name: Mountain Goat Classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Oreamnos Species: americanus Museum Location: Rocky Cliff Diorama Description: Mountain goats have a thick white to yellowish coat of hair that protects them from cold and allows them to live in regions where about nine months of the year are winter. In winter, their coat becomes even thicker and they feel quite warm and comfortable on the slopes. They are perfectly adapted to living on very steep slopes. Habitat and Range: Their range includes Alaska to northern Colorado and regions from the Pacific coast to the Rocky Mountains. This species lives in high elevations and observes the world from a bird's eye-view. These areas are usually covered with snow, yet this does not prevent the mountain goat from wandering freely in most cold climates. Diet: They feed on edges, grasses, herbs, and mosses. Behavior: Mountain goats tend to form large groups during the winter and at salt licks in the spring, but will form small groups or be solitary in the summer. They are active from sunrise to mid-day and then again at dusk. Males are dominant during the breeding season, but in the non-breeding season adult females dominate. Mountain goats dig 25-50 mm deep "bedding depressions," where they rest during the mid-day and night. They also dust bathe in these depressions, possibly to remove parasites or shedding skin/hair. Communication: Various vocalizations occur during mating season. Reproduction: Mountain goat breeding season is in late November to early January. Gestation is around 150-180 days and the 1-3 kids are born in May-June. The female gives birth on the very steep cliffs in her home range to avoid predators. The young are very mobile shortly after birth. The young are weaned after 3-4 months and stay with the mother until she gives birth again. Sexual maturity is reached after 30 months in both sexes. Species Status: Since they live in extreme environments, they have few predators. Many goats live in areas that are beyond the reach of hunters. About 100,000 mountain goats are estimated to live in North America. Interesting Facts: They have 'suction cups' on their feet to make them efficient climbers on rocks. They live for 12-15 years in the wild and usually die when the teeth are worn down to the gum line. In captivity, they can live from 16 to 20 years. Each spring, mountain goats shed their coat and many cliffs become sown with the hair. Adult males start to change their coats earlier compared to pregnant females. By July, most mountain goats completely shed their coat and grow a new one in preparation for winter. Cougars are the mountain goat's main predator. This species can be aged by counting the horn rings. By Anand Trivedi & M.H.