A two-week mountain goat relocation effort is underway in the Olympic National Park, as the state works to move dozens of the animals to the Cascades.
"It's pretty, you have a red helicopter and goats in orange bags and the goats are gorgeous, they're just beautiful white fur,” said Katherine Beirne, National Park Service GIS specialist.
Tuesday marked day two of a massive operation.
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The National Park Service is moving mountain goats from the Olympic National Park more than 100 miles away to the Cascades.
Mountain goats aren't native to the Olympic Peninsula. The animals were brought over in the 1920s and the population exploded.
"The population was growing at 8 percent a year, so, last year, when we started it off, we estimated there were 725 goats. If they continue to grow at that rate we'd soon be over 1,000 goats,” said Patti Happe, Olympic National Park wildlife branch chief.
Happe said goats tear up soil and plants. They also chase humans because they’re seeking salt.
In 2010, a hiker was killed by an aggressive mountain goat.
The National Park Service decided something needed to be done. Last year, they captured 115 mountain goats. Ninety-eight survived the move to the Cascades.
"As you can imagine, it's pretty stressful hanging from the belly of a helicopter being hobbled and then being put in a bag,” said Jenny Powers, National Park Service wildlife veterinarian: "I've never been inside the head of goat, so I'm not exactly sure, but we know their heartrates are elevated, their respiratory rates are elevated. If we drew some blood, their cortisol would probably be elevated, their adrenaline is rushing for sure."
The National Park Service showed KIRO 7 the process.
Crews capture the goats using nets or darts. They then tie the goats up and blindfold them to help calm them down.
The goats are flown to staging areas where veterinarians take control, caring for the animals.
They're then carried, put in crates and driven to their native mountain range.
The National Park Service, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and the USDA Forest Service will work together to continue moving mountain goats through July 19.
Cox Media Group
