Mountain Goat Facts
Mountain goat resting in the summer heat
Mountain goats live in elevations above 10,000 feet in alpine and subalpine terrain. They graze along high windswept mountaintops and valleys.
In the summer, they live above the tree line where temperatures are cooler and in the winter they migrate to the tree line for some shelter.
They are herbivores, feeding on grasses and other plants. They also lick the soil and cliff sides for salt and other minerals.
They kick up the dirt around where they rest to clear away parasites. This also provides cooler ground to lay on during the hot summer.
They frequently take dust baths, which maintains their fur in good condition.
You can tell the age of mountain goats by counting the rings on their horns.
The average lifespan of a mountain goat is 9 to 12 years.
They have 1-2 offspring once per year in May or June. The babies are able to walk within minutes of birth.
Mountain goats rely on their dense two-layered fur coats to survive the cold. As winter approaches, they grow a layer of guard hairs up to eight inches long that protect them from wind, rain, and snow. Another layer consisting of soft wool-like undercoat with one- to two-inch-long hairs provides insulation.
As the weather warms, they shed their thick winter fur by rubbing along rocks, bushes, and trees.
To keep cool in the summer, mountain goats often bed down during the hottest part of the day and seek out shade or snow patches in high-elevation and breezy areas to avoid overheating.
