No Snow, No Problem: See Mountain Goats
DWR holds wildlife viewing event in northeastern Utah
Mountain Home -- Less snow means fewer mountain goats at lower elevations in northeastern Utah this year. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attend an upcoming wildlife viewing event: you should still see some goats.
“With only a fraction of the snowpack that we experienced just a year ago, the rocky layer on the South Slope of the Uinta Mountains has been exposed through most of the winter,” says Tonya Kieffer, regional conservation outreach manager for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “This year, viewing mountain goats may prove to be difficult, but it’s still worth trying.”
The free mountain goat watch happens March 31 at an area called Rock Creek. The area is northwest of Mountain Home in northeastern Utah.
The free event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
What you’ll see
Randall Thacker, DWR biologist, says from the Rock Creek Road, you can usually see 10 to 30 mountain goats wintering in the canyon.
"This is a very unique opportunity in that some goats have remained within sight of the Stillwater Dam throughout the winter, though we suspect most of the herd is higher than normal this spring and may not be as visible from the bottom of the canyon,” Thacker says.
The mountain goats move around, so biologists will have to wait until the day of the event to determine the exact viewing sites. To find the viewing sites, simply drive up Rock Creek Road until you pass the U.S. Forest Service boundary sign. Once you pass the sign, drive slowly until you see biologists parked along the road.
Spotting scopes, equipped with Phone Skope adapters, will be available so you can get a close look at these incredible climbers in their shaggy, wintery white coats. Biologists will also set up a site that includes displays and information about mountain goats. From the site, biologists can direct you to additional viewing areas.
"Binoculars and spotting scopes will be available for you to use,” Kieffer says, “but if you have your own viewing gear, please bring it.”
Kieffer also encourages you to wear warm clothes and to bring some snacks. “Weather in the mountains is unpredictable,” she says. “And the viewing sites are quite a ways from stores and other places that sell supplies."
The nearest place to buy food is back in Mountain Home, at the Mountain Home Inn and Store. Kieffer says the store is helping host the event this year, and will provide some light snacks and refreshments at the viewing site.
A final note: the weather will determine if the event is held. If it appears the weather will be too severe, the event will have to be canceled.
“Hopefully,” Kieffer says, “the weather will cooperate. For an update, please feel free to call our Vernal office on Friday, March 30.”
You can reach the Vernal office at 435-781-WILD (9453).
Directions
1) To reach the viewing site from U.S. Highway 40, take one of the roads from US 40 to Altamont/Mountain Home:
a) If you’re approaching from the west: turn left (north) onto state Route 87 (N. Center Street) in Duchesne. Follow SR 87 north for roughly 15.5 miles, and turn left onto the road to Mountain Home (21000 West). This road is about four miles before you reach Altamont.
b) If you’re coming from the east: drive through Roosevelt on U.S. 40 roughly 5 miles, and turn right (north) onto Ioka Lane (3000 South; this road is right before US 40 turns south and goes uphill). Ioka Lane is also SR 87, so stay on this road to Altamont, then drive through Altamont to reach the Mountain Home Road, and turn north. This road is roughly 4 miles past Altamont.
2) From the SR 87/Mountain Home Road Junction: travel north on the Mountain Home Road about 2.8 miles, and turn left at the Mountain Home Inn & Store onto Country Route 95. This is the road to Rock Creek and Upper Stillwater Dam. The turn isn't well marked, but a sign for the Miner's Gulch, Yellowpine and Stillwater campgrounds is posted near the turn.
Follow Route 95 roughly 20 miles to the viewing area.
“If you keep your eyes open as you travel,” Kieffer says, “it’s common to see elk, deer and a variety of other wildlife along the way.”
Utah's largest herd
The Uinta Mountains are the largest contiguous block of mountain goat habitat in Utah. And mountain goats on the Uintas are doing well.
Thacker says mountain goats were re-introduced to the Uinta Mountains in 1987 when DWR biologists released seven animals from Lone Peak. In 1988 and 1989, biologists released another 25 goats from Olympic National Park. Between 1992 and 2000, the herd was supplemented by 57 additional animals from two Utah herds.
After the releases were over, a total of 89 goats had been released at 12 sites on the mountains.
"During our last trend count in 2017,” Thacker says, “we counted 733 mountain goats. When we count, we know we miss some. We estimate that there are almost 1,000 mountain goats across the Uinta Mountains right now. The population is doing great."
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