JOHN DAY – Wildlife experts moved 13 Rocky mountain goats from the Elkhorn Mountains in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest to a new home in the crags of the Strawberry Mountains in Malheur National Forest.

The move is part of ODFW’s ongoing efforts to help the goats re-establish their native territory across Northwest Oregon.

These mountain goats will supplement a small population that likely migrated from the Elkhorns in the late 1990s and have been successfully reproducing since 2005.

 ODFW wildlife biologists and veterinary staff captured, transported and released the animals. Staff from the U.S. Forest Service and volunteers from the Oregon Hunters Association assisted with the project.

Rocky Mountain goats disappeared from Oregon prior to or during European settlement in the late 19th century. The rarest game animal actually hunted in the state today, the present population is estimated to be 600-700, the result of efforts like the one that occurred this week.

“Because RockyMountain goats live in such difficult terrain steep, rocky and remote – much of their habitat remains intact,” said Ryan Torland, ODFW district wildlife biologist in John Day. “The ultimate goal of these relocations is to reestablish healthy goat populations in all available, suitable habitats within Oregon.”

This year’s project was the 15th since efforts began in 1950, when Oregon state wildlife officials transported five goats from ChopakaMountain in northern Washington to the Wallowa Mountains.

People who want to catch a glimpse of the rare Rocky Mountain goat can try hiking the higher elevations of the Elkhorns along the Elkhorn Crest hiking trail. In the Malheur National Forest, try the trails in the lakes basin area of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.

More photos and details will be in the July 25 issue of the Blue Mountain Eagle.