A directive from the National Parks
From the
Seattle Times:
Goat-goring death prompts new measures at Olympic National Park
The goat-goring death last fall of a man at Olympic National Park has prompted this warning to visitors: Don't urinate on trails.
The warning is part of a new plan being instituted by park officials to avoid a repeat of the Oct. 16 death of Bob H. Boardman of Port Angeles in a goat attack, according to the Peninsula Daily News.
Visitors to the park are being urged not to urinate along trails frequented by mountain goats to avoid turning trails into "long, linear salt licks" that attract goats. The plan also calls for one-week trail closures in areas where goats persistently follow people and enter campsites. In addition, there will be two-week closures in areas when mountain goats exhibit threatening postures, and if they will not leave an area without aggressive hazing, such as shouting, arm-waving and throwing rocks to keep them at a distance.
The plan, released Thursday by the park, also urges visitors and park staff to keep at least 50 yards away from all mountain goats regardless of the animals' behavior, according to the Daily News.
The plan includes six levels of response to goat sightings, from solely observation to lethal removal for goats that attack or corner a person.
Boardman, 63, died after trying to shoo away a mountain goat at the top of Klahhane Ridge, about four miles north of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. A necropsy later revealed the 370-pound adult male goat was in breeding condition, or the rut, when it gored Boardman in the left thigh.
I imagine not just the salts but also testosterone and other hormones could make the goat think that there was competition in the area. It's just a few weeks in the fall so this is something that should be monitored pretty easily. I pee off the edge of the deck and our three males don't use that as a salt lick -- they are all fixed so don't go into rut (this is a good thing).
Posted by DaveH at July 11, 2011 11:19 AM