Some of the largest herds of mountain goats in the state are located in the Uinta Mountains and if you’re hiking in their neck of the woods, the fact is you may encounter one. If you encounter a mountain goat while hiking or backpacking, here are some tips from the Division of Wildlife Resources to help keep you safe: Give them plenty of space (roughly 150 feet or more). If you see a mountain goat coming down the trail you are on, turn around and head back down the trail to avoid getting too close to them. Like other big game animals, mountain goats can be especially aggressive toward dogs. Keep dogs leashed and under control at all times. If a mountain goat begins approaching you, slowly back away and give it some distance. If it continues approaching, wave your arms and make loud noises to try and scare it away. “Mountain goats can impale you with their horns, so you don’t want to risk coming into contact with one,” shares DWR Species Coordinator Rusty Robinson. “Remember that they are wild animals, so always give them plenty of space. They are found in some pretty extreme terrain, so you don’t want to risk getting too close to one while on the edge of a cliff…If you need to turn around and cut your hike short, do it.” Find more info at www.wildawareutah.org.
