<< Previous Next >>

Mountain Goat


Mountain Goat
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-22
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon Eos 300D Digital Rebel, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-01-17 17:48
Viewed: 1309
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This young Mountain Goat was captured in the Tangle Creek area of the Icefield Parkway in Jasper National Park. These goats have strong shoulder muscles and special hooves with soft centers that allow them to scrabble up rock faces with ease.


Mountain Goat
Oreamnos americanus
General Description

By Gustave J. Yaki


Fossils of Mountain Goats date back to about 15 million years of age. Not a true goat at all, they belong to a small group of mountain antelope. They occur in mountainous western North America from southern Alaska, Yukon and the Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories to northern Washington, Idaho, northeast Oregon and western Montana. Within Alberta, their range is along the AB.-B.C. border in the Rockies. Within their range, they have a spotty distribution as they are restricted to suitable habitat.

Their preferred habitat is some of the most rugged terrain imaginable, particularly steep slopes and benches along cliffs, often at or above timberline into alpine meadows up to the limit of vegetation at about 2400 m (8000 ft.) elevation. They feed throughout the day, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Their summer diet is mainly grasses, sedges and rushes. In winter, up to 25% of their food is conifers -- Douglas-fir and Alpine Firs. They can easily jump 3 m (10 ft.) from one ledge to another. Their white coat undoubtedly helps them to blend into the lingering snow patches. During winter storms, they sometimes resort to caves for protection against the weather.

They have remarkable eyesight for they notice movement at least 1.6 km (1 mile) away. Their sense of smell may be equally acute but shifting air currents in their mountainous terrain make it less reliable for detecting their predators. The main ones are Mountain Lions (Cougars), particularly when sheltering in caves, and Golden Eagles which prey on kids straying too far from their mother. Grizzly Bears, Wolverines, Wolves and Coyotes may opportunistically take some, too.

Although hunted by humans, their flesh is considered unpalatable by present standards. They are now only sought as trophies. Their woolly undercoat is finer than that of cashmere. This fine fleece was used by northwest coast natives to weave the famous Chilkat blankets.

Mountain Goats are moderately gregarious. Females and their young form groups usually of less than ten in summer. Males live solo or in loose association with other billies, joining the nannies only in the autumn. The rutting period is in November. Males rarely fight each other but when they do, it is vicious as they try to gore each other's flanks. Following a gestation of about 178 days, in late May or early June, the kids are born, most often as singles but in 25% of the cases, twins. Triplets are rare. They weigh from 2.9 to 3.8 kg (average 7 lbs.). They nurse frequently but at about one week they start to nibble on grasses. They are weaned at about six weeks. They remain with their mother throughout the winter, but are rebuffed by her before the birth of the new offspring. They follow her, however, at a distance, during the second summer. The young females are reproductively mature at 27 months, the males at 39 months. The may live for 12 years in the wild.
eqshannon, NinaM, Evelynn, jaycee, SelenE, uleko, Argus, mariki, Juyona, CeltickRanger, dejo, wuta, fartash has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Evelynn: Just a hop , skip and jumpAdanac 1 01-18 09:49
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

You are surely a man after my own thoughts...I love these images Rick...This one is as me and my photos, quite different. I can see we have had similar experiences...I also see more buckwheat. Wondering how common it is to some areas and we never noticed till last summer or fall when I posted one...also I cannot say for sure because the flower of white is a bit obscure, but it appears as there is some Yarrow or look alike plant as well...if so it heals wounds from climbing those sharp granite rocks!:-) Takes one application of fresh green and hold tight against the wound. It will stop bleeding in 30 seconds and heal fast...
Bob

This is a cute little guy Rick. I like the inclusion of the foreground plants. Your focal length was pretty short. Was he close to the road or did you hike off and find him? I wish gasoline wasn't so expensive and Jasper so far! I've seen quite a lot of animal shots from Jasper.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-01-17 21:31]

Hi Rick,

A wonderful shot of this mountain goat - really close-up. I love the flowers in the foreground. Fantastic view of his face and ears. Excellent details of those and of his coat.

Jane

The school boys hiking with me in the Himalayas during my younger days used to call me a "mountain goat", Rick. Now I know why, ha, ha, ha! I am certainly sure-footed, especially on steep mountain sides, even at my age!
This is a brilliant shot of a white mountain goat from your country. The brown plants in the foreground contrast well with the white color of the subject.
This one seems to be quite young in view of the absence of horns on its head.
TFS and regards.
Ram

Hello Rick,
Hit the next button and thought immediately: this must be 'Adanac';-).
You can come really close to these animals; surprising?
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2008-01-18 6:26]

Hi Rick,
What a cute mountain goat :o) POV, composition and details look so nice. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3002 W: 162 N: 991] (2901)
  • [2008-01-18 7:21]

Hello Rick,
This is a splendid close-up of this beautiful Mountain Goat. Excellent sharpness and colours. The herbs in the foreground complete the picture very nicely. Well done!
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3831 W: 190 N: 11410] (35161)
  • [2008-01-18 7:22]

Hello Rick,
You have an archive brimming with interesting images! This one of a young Mountain Goat kid is a fine close portrait that is well composed and pretty sharp.
Thanks for sharing this,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6596)
  • [2008-01-18 8:45]

Hi Rick, it is a joy to see this beautiful goat. It is so tender, its youth and naive look are just irresistible and once more, you truly captured the essence of this little animal. Nice composition, I love the plants in foreground and the blue background. Thanks Rick,

Francine

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2269 W: 10 N: 2650] (15641)
  • [2008-01-18 12:09]

Hola Rick,
precioso trabajo,
hermoso retrato y pov,
sensacional trabajo,
saludos

Hi Rick ,
Every photo that you present to us are very rare, this one is super with sharpness and super POV.
Thanks
Marie

hello Rick

superb portrai shot of this mountain animal, excellent focus
with excellent details of the foreground's subjects,
i love that in the framing, you leave a little free space
in front of the animal, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-01-18 21:23]

Hello Rick

A very cute little fellow.
A well exposed shot of this kid.The fur detail is very good.
I really like the crop of vegetation in the foreground including the alpine flowers.
Nicely composed with very good eye detail.
Wonderful POV.
TFS
Rob

Hello Rick,

Very nice portrait of this cute goat. Beautiful composition.
Great POV. Very good sharpness. Beautiful natural colours.
Well done,
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 51 N: 519] (2238)
  • [2008-01-19 7:29]

Hi Rick,
beautiful capture of this cute mountain goat :)
great portrait nicelly composed and sharp
bestr regards, Dejan

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2008-01-19 9:57]

Hello Rick , This shot is very nice ,and so complete well taken shot , good in pov and very find details ,good job ,tfs ,Greetings Teunie .

nice baby, TFS Ori

Hello Rick
Very intersting shot of this young Mountain Goat :O)
Perfect focusing,comsition and BG,Welldone my friend.

Regards
Fartash

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF