Mountain Goats

In 2022, it was the International Year of Caves and Karst. These hidden worlds contain unique ecosystems. The International Year of Caves and Karst was established by a number of organizations to shine a light on the importance of caves and karst. Karst forms when soluble bedrock is dissolved by water. It starts with existing fractures and cracks in the bedrock, which become enlarged through dissolution. Given enough time, large subterranean drainage networks can develop, connecting the surface with the subsurface.

Rainwater picks up carbon dioxide from the air, and as it makes its way through the soil, it turns into weak carbonic acid. This slowly dissolves limestone, dolomite, and other types of soluble rocks along the joints, bedding planes, and fractures, which over time become enlarged enough to form caves.

This cave can be viewed from a pull-off along the road below, a few hundred meters away. It is even better seen with binoculars or a zoom lens. At parts of the year, I can see mountain goats on the slope of the mountain that this cave is part of, sometimes grazing or hanging out in front of it. On this occasion, there were six of them. I noticed one standing right away, but when I zoomed in, I could see two sitting at the entrance and three on the rocks just below. Mountain goats' habitat makes up an interesting geological world.

Mountain Goat

I can still recall a school field trip as a child when we were looking at lichen on a rock. Lichen can tell us how healthy the quality of air is since they get the food they need to survive directly from it. In the U.S., scientists in the Forest Service and Park Service use lichen to assess the quality of the air. When the air has too many pollutants, like sulphur, heavy metals, or nitrogen, it can be deadly to lichen.

Lichen are made up of three layers. The outer layer is fungus, the middle layer is algae, and the lower layer helps it stick to surfaces. When it comes to surfaces that lichen adhere to, it can attach to nearly any surface, including rocks, trees, soil, and even glass and metal. Lichens can grow in extreme conditions where most other life forms cannot. The algae layer produces food using photosynthesis, the outer layer protects it from too much sun, and filters water down for the algae layer to thrive. They are quite self-sufficient and can survive without water for a long time; this feature is important in extreme or barren habitats. They can reproduce sexually, asexually, or both, and some lichens can live up to 4,000 years.

Lichens play a role in the first step of weathering the rocks on which they live by creating tiny crevasses into which water’s freezing and thawing action can occur. The rock disintegration provides the raw material for soil building. In these cryptobiotic soils, lichens bind soil particles together. This crusty soil will trap blowing dust, preventing erosion and adding nutrients. The decay of dead lichens adds nitrogen to the soil.

Mammals such as caribou, mule deer, mountain goats, moose, and pronghorn forage on lichen, particularly in winter. Birds, including hummingbirds, use them in their nest building. Lichens have been used to make dyes and are used in perfume. Lichen growth patterns can also be used for dating stone structures.

During my hike a few weeks back, I was watching a two-year-old mountain goat grazing for a while before moving over the rocks. For just a few seconds, it stopped on rocks covered by lichens. I quickly got my camera, pointing it at the goat and making sure I zoomed out to include the lichens as well. Just a note: the goats do not feed on the lichens shown in the picture; they instead feed what is called white foam (or snow) lichen.

Mountain Goat

Just as I can’t survive on chocolate alone, mountain goats can’t on one type of food. They need to be able to freely move around to be able to consume a variety of food to survive. During the winter is when they are most challenged to find enough food. During the summer when they start putting back the weight, have milk for their kids and start working on their new winter coat for the coming winter. In the summer, they consume grasses, lichens, mosses, sedges and various flowering plants. Since goats are ruminants, which is an even-toed ungulate mammal that chews the cud regurgitated from its rumen. Putting their four stomachs to work, helped by microbes to break down coarse plants. If they are not able to get certain minerals through their regular diet, goats at some places are known to travel 25 km to lick natural salt deposits. The kid in this picture can relax while the nanny licks up the important mineral her body needs and to be able to pass on through her milk when nursing. But along the way, her offspring will learn from its mother where to go for all the nutrients it will need when it is on its own.

Mountain Goat

There could be as many as 100,000 mountain goats in North America, about half are found in British Columbia. Smaller isolated populations found in Alberta. They tend to stay close to the mountain range they are part of, except when some disperse to other areas. With some effort I can find them anytime of the year. Most times looking high up with the help of a binocular and or a camera. With aid I can enjoy watching them in their natural habitat. And a few times a year getting a wonderful opportunity to see them even closer with my naked eyes. 

Mountain goat’s feet are designed for the animals to be able to easily move around the steep cliffs, even with slopes having pitches that exceed 60 degrees. They have powerful shoulder and neck muscles to help them move up steep slopes. Even though they are great climbers, they do have their limits. I have seen a number of times when an individual is not able to go down a difficult path, only to end up spending time finding their way back before finding an easier route to their destination. The kids, who are given birth in isolation, can follow their mother over challenging terrain two to three days later to join the herd. They are born climbers.

Watching them moving on the side of the mountain has to be my favorite part of watching the goats, trying to see what path they will take. Because of their extreme habitat, they seem to know just where to stop and pose to provide these amazing photo opportunities. And sometimes I’m close enough to take advantage of the opportunities by getting a photo or two.

Mountain Goat 210528 Amar Athwal.jpeg

Mountain Goat

Nanny and her week old kid make their way to the bottom of the valley for some well deserved minerals. The mountain goats spend most of they time above the tree line throughout the year, moving up and down within their range. Kids are born in May or June after a six month gestation period. Normally a nanny gives birth to a single offspring after isolating herself from rest of the group. The kids weighs about 3 kg when born, within few hours it begins to run and climb. A nanny will protect her kid when faced with predators and protecting it from steep slopes with her body. Kids stay close to their mother for a year, end of which the nanny gives birth again.

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goats

The older mountain goats made their way to the bottom, for the minerals. But the kids, about two week old were bit skittish to say the least, they were staying higher up the day I came across them, they were full of energy and very playful. Running around, butting heads and pushing each other off  prime spots. This playful behaviour will come in handy when they get older, when they will be threatening to use their horns, over prime spots for eating and for resting. But for now it's fun for them and for us watching. 

Until next moment, 

Amar

Mountain Goats

Mountain Goat

 

The mother sat there for most of the time, as the kid full of energy jumped up and down with dirt flying into the air. Then heading butting a branch for several minutes before a Raven landed nearby. The kid moved toward the Raven, the Raven keeping its distance until it flew away. More head butting followed, all this went on for some twenty minutes. After that the one year old mountain goat went over to its mother and sat down next to her.
Until next moment,
Amar

 

 

Mountain Goat

 This female Mountain Goat was spotted a week ago, licking minerals near the bottom of the valley. Few weeks from now they will start losing their winter coat, so its was good to get pictures of them before that takes place. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Mountain Goat

This one year old with two older mountain goats were hanging out near the bottom of the valley. Looking for important minerals to digest and eating plants as well. It was  nice treat see them up close, since I have been watching them from a distance for several months.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mountain Goats

While watching the mountain goats from the bottom of the valley, I was taken back to days in the classroom when studying Greek mythology. The goats like the mythological gods watching over from above, while a mortal looking above in amazement.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mountain Goats

Over the last little while I have been watching mountain goats, from far away, about 3.3 km to be exact. Watched them on a side of a peak, a kilometre above the valley. They are willing to deal with harsh weather, avalanche danger and low quality food. Why? To survive, a goal of every animal. No predator to challenge them up there, not until warmer weather arrives and they have to come down for minerals and other nutrients.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mountain Goats

The goats were taking in the last of the sunlight of the day. Would have been great hiking up to get a closer picture, but it was to late to hike near them. So from my location I framed the picture that would give the best look.

Until next moment,

Amar 

Mountain Goats

I was making my way home through Kootenay National Park, passing by Mount Wardle, when I saw several mountain goats at the animal lick. It's a place where the goats can find important mineral nutrients. The natural licks , provide various minerals for bone, muscle and other growth in animals. They were about 15 meters above the road, quickly grabbed several pictures before continuing my way home.

Until next moment,

Amar