Attention Pet Owners: Beware of These Dangerous Mountain Goats, Officials Say

Mountain goats are no strangers to violence, and they are letting the public know that they do not appreciate instigation done by pets. Three dogs have recently been killed while off-leash in a popular Utah park on Mount Timpanogos. As we creep closer to October, when the mating season for mountain goats occurs, it is extra important to use caution and to keep your pets leashed at all times. For now, officials warn not to bring dogs on the hiking trail at all.

This warning comes after the death of the dogs and at the advice of the Timpanogos officials. Each incident happened when dogs who were not leashed, went ahead of their owners and encountered mountain goats. Mountain goats are not fond of dogs and will defend their territory and young if approached by a dog. Each of these situations was exactly that.

The Death of Three Dogs

A hiker’s dog, Lola, was gutted in front of her owner this past week. The Goldendoodle ran ahead of the hiker, who frequented the hiking trail and encountered a mountain goat. Before the woman could get to her dog, the mountain goat gored the dog, leaving Lola dead and her owner sobbing.

Days later, another canine death occurred. This time the dog saw a group of mountain goats rathered on a ridgeline and began barking at them. The dog was not leashed and ran towards the goats. Some of the mountain goats had young with them, and one decided to defend the calves and gored the dog. After goring the barking dog, the mountain goat tossed the dead dog over a cliff.

Another off-leash dog who was annoying a nanny mountain goat with young was thrown off a cliff when the nanny goat decided enough was enough and intervened to protect her young.

Leashed is Best

The outcome could have potentially been much different had the dogs been leashed and stayed away from the defensive mountain goats. Canines are a predator of mountain goats, and the mountain goats act instinctually to protect themselves or their young. Whenever you are hiking with a dog, you must keep your dog leashed. Always be prepared to encounter wildlife because you are in their home when you enter the park. It’s very important to act respectfully when you enter the home of anyone, especially wildlife.

Don’t Bring Your Dogs

From what people have said, the trail is filled with mountain goats at this time of year. Those goats are rarely aggressive, but just like any wild animal, they can become aggressive without a moment’s notice. This time of year, nanny goats have young that they will protect at all costs. When you mess with anyone’s children, tensions arise, and the cost can be a life. If you come across a mountain goat nanny with young, just stay away from it and do not make her feel threatened.

“At present, I would probably discourage people from taking dogs up around Timpanogos,” Scott Root said. Utah County officials told Salt Lake City’s FOX-13 TV. “Allowing your dogs to chase goats carries fines akin to poaching,” explained Root from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

These are all sad stories in which the dog dies, but it doesn’t have to end like that. Leave your dogs at home when you will be hiking with wildlife that may see canines as a threat. It’s safer for everyone that way. Dogs, as well as wildlife, can be unpredictable, but animals with young are fairly easy to predict. They will defend their young just as any mother would.