Watch: Mountain Goats in Colorado Increasingly Showing ‘Unnatural Behavior’
“Do not feed wildlife” is a warning officials in Colorado have issued as mountain goats have been trying to cozy up with humans — a behavior deemed “unnatural.”
On Tuesday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife urged people who hike Mount Evans, a peak in the Rocky Mountains, to “do their part in helping keep wildlife wild by not feeding any animals they encounter and keeping a safe distance from them.”
Bighorn sheep or mountain goats coming right up to people on Mount Evans is likely a result of being fed or becoming accustomed to having people close by when they try to take photos with wildlife. This can lead to dangerous encounters.
🔗 https://t.co/rYJcag69ae pic.twitter.com/DoVAIathrN
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) July 9, 2019
Officials said mountain goats have been observed in the area throughout 2018 “licking vehicles for the salt on them, putting heads inside open car windows, running toward the sound of crinkling food wrappers, running towards people holding food, entering restrooms and tolerating large groups of people surrounding them to take photographs and videos from unsafe distances.” . . .
The Colorado agency explained the goats’ behavior is probably because of their experience being close to humans — whether being fed, or being close to them while they take photos.
📍 Mount Evans
This is unnatural behavior of mountain goats, going up to vehicles to lick the salt off the tires of cars. It is one aspect of a growing problem with humans and wildlife on the highest paved road in the United States.
Learn more: https://t.co/rYJcafOxLE pic.twitter.com/MqtKv3HFf9
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) July 9, 2019
In an attempt to curb the problematic interactions between the goats and humans, Parks and Wildlife says it’s started “reinstating the natural fear of humans by using hazing tactics on the wildlife” including sound and direct contact from tasers, cattle prods, paintball guns, and a K-9 officer to “haze offending animals away from people and cars.” (Read more from “Watch: Mountain Goats in Colorado Increasingly Showing ‘Unnatural Behavior'” HERE)
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