Inquisitive Mountain Goat
Mountain goats are not native inhabitants of the Colorado alpine. Introduced in 1947, this species has largely colonized the alpine zone in many of Colorado’s mountain ranges, competing with the native Bighorn Sheep for territory and resources. Scientists have noted that where Mountain Goat populations increase, Bighorn Sheep populations subsequently decrease. Mountain goats are known to trample vegetation, eventually replacing native vegetation with bare ground. When I made this photo, I was above a basin containing some of the most dense and diverse wildflower populations I have ever seen in Colorado, and these goats had worn down some of the surrounding area to bare dirt. Is the revenue from the hunting licenses worth it? This is another classic example of how manufactured ecosystems have unintended consequences that are nearly impossible to foresee when particular conservation decisions are being made. As always, leaving a place as it is seems to provide the least risk. Research information from CU professor Jeff Mitton.
