Scientific review of research on mountain goats in Olympic
On 21 July 2000 the National Park Service announced the availability of an independent report titled "Review of Scientific Material Relevant to the Occurrence, Ecosystem Role, and Tested Management Options for Mountain Goats in Olympic National Park." This review, conducted by the Conservation Biology Institute of Corvallis, Oregon, under contract to the Department of the Interior, is available on the Internet at www.consbio.org. The report found that the available evidence supports the view that the mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) has never been native to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The probability that the mountain goat naturally colonized the peninsula in the past is relatively low. The review team noted that although mountain goats are certainly having some effect, substantial and harmful impacts at the population, community, and ecosystem levels have not been established. The team indicated that this does not mean that significant impacts have not occurred, but only that the studies fail to distinguish goat-caused impacts from effects of natural physical factors such as wind, freeze-thaw cycles, or water erosion. The team also stated that control of mountain goats within the park would be both prudent and feasible.
[[Photo of mountain goats in Olympic National Park, Washington]]
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/YearInReview/yir/yir2000/text/05_restoration/05_07_sidebar_goats.html
Last Updated: 06/17/2001
Direct comments on this website to jeff_selleck@nps.gov