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Home/Species/ Rocky Mountain Goat

Oreamnos americanus

(Blainville, 1816)

Rocky Mountain Goat

G5Secure Found in 180 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104036
Element CodeAMALE02010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderArtiodactyla
FamilyBovidae
GenusOreamnos
Other Common Names
Chèvre de montagne (FR) Mountain Goat (EN)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date1996-11-19
Range Extent Comments
Mountains of northwestern North America from southeast Alaska to Washington, western Montana and southern Idaho. Introduced in Colorado, Oregon, Olympic Peninsula of Washington, and South Dakota.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Alpine and subalpine habitat; steep grassy talus slopes, grassy ledges of cliffs, or alpine meadows. Usually at timberline or above. May seek shelter and food in stands of spruce or hemlock in winter. Young are born on rock ledges or steep cliffs.

Ecology

Adult females and young may form small groups in summer. Males often solitary (sometimes in male groups), join female groups in fall. Annual home range in different areas of Montana was 6-24 sq km (Singer and Doherty 1985).

In Alberta, survival of young to 1 year averaged 60%; most deaths occurred in fall; predation by mountain lions, wolves, and grizzly bears was a major source of mortality (Festa-Bianchet et al. 1994).

Reproduction

Rut takes place in November. Gestation lasts about 178 days (Banfield 1974). One (sometimes 2, occasionally 3) precocial kids born late May or early June. In Washington and Colorado, sexually mature in about 2 years, though in some areas some yearling females may breed. In Alberta, females produced their first young at 4-5 years; about 70-80% of adult females produced young in a given year (Festa-Bianchet et al. 1994). See Bailey (1991) for information on factors that affect reproductive success in Colorado.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferGrassland/herbaceousAlpineBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
Yukon TerritoryS3Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS2Yes
AlbertaS4Yes
British ColumbiaS3Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
OregonSNANo
WashingtonS2Yes
IdahoS3Yes
WyomingSNANo
AlaskaS4Yes
ColoradoSNANo
South DakotaSNANo
UtahSNANo
NevadaSNANo
MontanaS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource use——Insignificant/negligible or past
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals——Insignificant/negligible or past
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance——High (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activities——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (180)
Alaska (32)
AreaForestAcres
Bering LakeChugach National Forest965,076
Boston BarChugach National Forest53,617
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-13Chugach National Forest13,337
Chugach-17Chugach National Forest19,954
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
Exit Glacier DonutChugach National Forest126
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Johnson PassChugach National Forest152,508
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
Prince William Sound Is.Chugach National Forest118,698
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
SecurityTongass National Forest31,428
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Tasnuna RiverChugach National Forest348,866
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Windham-Port HoughtonTongass National Forest161,952
Colorado (4)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Pole Mountain / Finger MesaRio Grande NF43,863
Red TableWhite River NF39,122
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Idaho (6)
AreaForestAcres
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
Boulder - White CloudsSalmon-Challis National Forest139,297
Boulder - White CloudsSawtooth National Forest322,653
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
Montana (43)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanHelena National Forest51,360
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Big LogHelena National Forest8,954
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Burnt MountainCuster National Forest10,698
Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area OcdGallatin National Forest35,048
Cabinet Face East #671Kootenai National Forest50,326
Cayuse MountainHelena National Forest20,146
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
EmerineBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest14,282
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Hellgate GulchHelena National Forest16,821
HoodooLolo National Forest105,162
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
LionheadGallatin National Forest33,549
Lolo CreekLolo National Forest14,335
Lolo CreekBitterroot National Forest581
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Mckay Creek #676Kootenai National Forest15,323
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
Mt. JeffersonBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest4,482
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
North CarpBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest6,600
Proposed Line Creek PrnaCuster National Forest389
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
Roberts #691Kootenai National Forest3,444
Rock CreekKootenai National Forest806
SapphiresBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest66,619
Scotchman Peaks (MT)Kootenai National Forest53,909
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Sheep Mountain - StatelineLolo National Forest37,844
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
Ten Lakes #683Kootenai National Forest48,545
Thompson Seton #483Kootenai National Forest29,379
West Fork Elk #692Kootenai National Forest1,467
Willard Estelle #173Kootenai National Forest3,714
Nevada (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - MarshHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest10,164
Ruby - Secret Pk.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,749
Ruby - SegundaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,532
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
Oregon (16)
AreaForestAcres
Boulder ParkWallowa-Whitman National Forest12,141
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
Grande RondeUmatilla National Forest12,296
Grande RondeWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,650
Greenhorn MountainMalheur National Forest15,936
Greenhorn Mtn.Umatilla National Forest11,191
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Little Eagle MeadowsWallowa-Whitman National Forest6,984
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
Marble PointWallowa-Whitman National Forest6,874
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Sheep DivideWallowa-Whitman National Forest16,201
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
Utah (25)
AreaForestAcres
0401005Ashley National Forest38,930
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418012Uinta National Forest25,758
418014Uinta National Forest9,683
418015Uinta National Forest17,289
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418026Uinta National Forest14,038
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
418029Uinta National Forest15,673
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Bullion - DelanoFishlake National Forest14,917
Burch CreekWasatch-Cache National Forest6,938
City CreekFishlake National Forest13,939
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
Horse Mountain - Mans PeakManti-Lasal National Forest22,159
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
Tushar MountainFishlake National Forest39,992
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (37)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
ChambersGifford Pinchot National Forest2,006
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Dark DivideGifford Pinchot National Forest52,483
Dixon MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest6,339
Eagle RockMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest34,064
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak KMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest47,269
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
HorseshoeGifford Pinchot National Forest7,579
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
PompeyGifford Pinchot National Forest23,985
Red LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest2,162
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
SiouxonGifford Pinchot National Forest12,773
StrawberryGifford Pinchot National Forest5,244
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
TumwaterGifford Pinchot National Forest8,676
Upper SkokomishOlympic National Forest9,311
WobblyGifford Pinchot National Forest6,335
Wyoming (11)
AreaForestAcres
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Sulphur CreekShoshone National Forest30,221
Trout CreekShoshone National Forest44,034
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (21)
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  6. Carlquist, B. 1990. An effective management plan for the exotic mountain goats in Olympic National Park. Natural Areas Journal 10:12-18.
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  18. Smith, B. L. 1988. Criteria for determining age and sex of American mountain goats in the field. J. Mamm. 69:395-402.
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  21. Wilson, D. E., and S. Ruff. 1999. The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 750 pp.