IPNF outlines goat etiquette

SANDPOINT – Every summer, the Idaho Panhandle National Forests receives reports of people getting too close to the mountain goats on the Scotchman Peak Trail  number 65. Mountain goats can become habituated to humans as a result of hikers enticing the goats with food and sweaty salty hands.

According to a statement from IPNF, these close encounters can be very dangerous because mountain goats are known to behave aggressively in an attempt to obtain human foods and/or salt.

Wildlife experts recommend people stay at least 100 feet away from the goats and if goats approach, yell, wave clothing, and make efforts from a distance to scare them away. There have been numerous reports of goats attempting to head-butt or charge hikers, which could easily lead to serious injury or death. This lead to a yearlong closure of the trail in 2015.

In order for the Forest Service to keep this trail open so everyone can enjoy the expansive views and frequent mountain goat sightings, people should practice good goat etiquette and educate others if improver behavior is witnessed, the statement says. 

For information on keeping the mountain goats wild, visit bit.ly/2NPaRel.