Mountain Goat

Oreamnos americanus

General Status Rank: 
May Be At Risk
ELCODE: 
AMALE02010
Common Name: 
Mountain Goat
Scientific Name: 
Oreamnos americanus
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Terrestrial Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Artiodactyla
Family: 
Bovidae
References: 
B001
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

2.5 years
References: 
B112

Longevity

up to 12 years
References: 
B001

Economic/Human Considerations

tourism; trophy hunting (5 - 10 annually by residents)
References: 
B112
H111
Habitat
At or above timberline in subalpine and arctic alpine rugged, mountainous terrain.
References: 
B112
H116
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera
References: 
B112

Distribution

Extent of occurrence about 25,000 km2.
Score: 
F = 2
References: 
B112

Number of Occurrences

1 population
Score: 
A = 1
References: 
H161

Area of Occupancy

Range in North America increasing; expanding range and distribution in Flat River areas (H217).
Score: 
-
References: 
R137
H164_05
H249
H300
Population

Population Size

Veitch et al. (2002: A135) estimated the NWT mountain goat population was 768-989 (R137). Densities from surveys in South Nahanni Outfitters (DOT01) and Nahanni Butte Outfitter (DOT02) areas (R137;R249) leads to an estimate of 1,200-1,500 for the NWT (H300). N. Larter: this estimate is too low and notes that there are probably close to 2,000 in the NWT.
Score: 
D = 1
References: 
B112
R137
H164_05
A135
H300
R249
Trends

Trends

Dehcho population is most likely stable to increasing (H300) and Sahtu population is probably stable (H300)
Score: 
G = r
References: 
R137
H164_05
H249
H300
Threats

Threats

Lack of suitable forage in winter, snow slides (B112), possible re-activation of mine, helicopter disturbance (H116), mining activities (H300).
Score: 
BC =
References: 
B112
H116
H300

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Possible re-activation of mine.
Score: 
-
References: 
B112
H116
H300
General Status Rank
Rank: 
May Be At Risk
Status Rank Description: 
Only one population with about 2,000 animals - but disjunct from the rest of North America - seems stable in the NWT.
S Rank: 
S2S3
Decision Process Description: 
Reviewed in 2004 based on comments from N. Larter - no change in status. Reviewed in 2010, no change. Reviewed in 2015 and reviewed in 2020, no change.
Last Updated: 
February 14, 2024

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Chapman JA and Feldhamer GA (editors) (1982) Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, Economics. The Johns Hopkins University Press RWED Library Call #QL715.W5 - B112 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • NICHOLAS C. LARTER (2004) MOUNTAIN GOAT SURVEY FLAT RIVER AREA,WESTERN MACKENZIE MOUNTAINS, SEPTEMBER 2004. Manuscript report WF web site - R137 Return
  • Larter Nic (2004) Notes on re-assessment of mammals. e-mail to S Carriere dated 12/11/04 copy in reference binder - H164_05 Return
  • SARC Members (2010) Background information for SARC meeting on priority species. Copy in binder - H249 Return
  • Larter Nic (2015) - H300 Return

Economic Status

  • Chapman JA and Feldhamer GA (editors) (1982) Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, Economics. The Johns Hopkins University Press RWED Library Call #QL715.W5 - B112 Return
  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return

Ecozones

  • Chapman JA and Feldhamer GA (editors) (1982) Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, Economics. The Johns Hopkins University Press RWED Library Call #QL715.W5 - B112 Return

Habitat

  • Chapman JA and Feldhamer GA (editors) (1982) Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, Economics. The Johns Hopkins University Press RWED Library Call #QL715.W5 - B112 Return
  • Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Chapman JA and Feldhamer GA (editors) (1982) Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, Economics. The Johns Hopkins University Press RWED Library Call #QL715.W5 - B112 Return
  • Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return
  • Larter Nic (2015) - H300 Return

Longevity

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Machtans, Craig (2002) Toads and stuff. E-mail sent to S Carriere on 12 April 2002 Copy in Infobase references - H161 Return

Population Size

Chapman JA and Feldhamer GA (editors) (1982) Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, Economics. The Johns Hopkins University Press RWED Library Call #QL715.W5 - B112 Return
,
NICHOLAS C. LARTER (2004) MOUNTAIN GOAT SURVEY FLAT RIVER AREA,WESTERN MACKENZIE MOUNTAINS, SEPTEMBER 2004. Manuscript report WF web site - R137 Return
,
Larter Nic (2004) Notes on re-assessment of mammals. e-mail to S Carriere dated 12/11/04 copy in reference binder - H164_05 Return
,
Veitch, A., Simmons, E., Promislow, M., Tate, D., Sallow, M. and Popko, R (2002) The status of mountain goats in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council 13: 49-62.. Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council 13: 49-62. 13: 49-62. - A135 Return
,
Larter Nic (2015) - H300 Return
,
Larter, N (2012) Manuscript Report No. 212 ENR webpage - R249 Return

Range Extent

  • Chapman JA and Feldhamer GA (editors) (1982) Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, Economics. The Johns Hopkins University Press RWED Library Call #QL715.W5 - B112 Return

Short Term Trends

  • NICHOLAS C. LARTER (2004) MOUNTAIN GOAT SURVEY FLAT RIVER AREA,WESTERN MACKENZIE MOUNTAINS, SEPTEMBER 2004. Manuscript report WF web site - R137 Return
  • Larter Nic (2004) Notes on re-assessment of mammals. e-mail to S Carriere dated 12/11/04 copy in reference binder - H164_05 Return
  • SARC Members (2010) Background information for SARC meeting on priority species. Copy in binder - H249 Return
  • Larter Nic (2015) - H300 Return

Taxonomy

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Threats

  • Chapman JA and Feldhamer GA (editors) (1982) Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, Economics. The Johns Hopkins University Press RWED Library Call #QL715.W5 - B112 Return
  • Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return
  • Larter Nic (2015) - H300 Return