You've Got My Goat

Mountain goats on the Colorado Front Range have become rather use to seeing people on their high mountain abodes and demonstrate little fear of man as a result.

Oreamnos americanus

In fact, many of these goats have learned that humans = salty treats. Only the salt they seem to prefer often comes from human urine.

These goats were photographed atop Whale Peak located near the South Park area. We had no sooner arrived at the summit on a fall day, when this group of goats came strolling up and walked right up to within 8 or 10 feet of us, apparently just checking us out and seeming to ask, “Who’s this on my peak?” No need for zoom lens now. We just whipped out the camera and spent the next 15 minutes taking photos as the goats checked us out and a couple of babies born that spring played on the summit cairn, jumping off and then climbing back up again, practicing their rock climbing skills, we guessed.

This particular goat seemed to understand that we wanted a nice pose. Its’ bright, white fur stood out nicely against the storm cloud backdrop.  Photo taken mid-September, 2007.