Details
Oreamnos americanus
A white bovid of western North American mountains, specialized for cliffs, snowfields, and alpine meadows. Dense fur protects it from cold.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Mountain goats inhabit alpine meadows, cliffs, rocky ridges, and snowfields from the Rocky Mountains to coastal ranges. Steep terrain provides predator refuge.
They have long white coats, short black horns, and specialized hooves. Hard outer edges and soft pads improve grip on rock.
They forage by day and move across ledges and ridgelines. Females and young form small groups, while adult males are often solitary outside the rut.
Their diet includes alpine herbs, grasses, lichens, mosses, and shrub leaves. Winter foraging often occurs on wind-scoured slopes.
Breeding occurs in autumn, with kids born in spring or early summer. Newborns can walk quickly and follow mothers across steep terrain.
Despite the common name, the species is not a true goat in the genus Capra; it is a cliff-adapted North American caprine.
