It probably seems like I says this a lot, (probably like politicians saying "nothing is more important than jobs" when stumping in Michigan, or "nothing is more important than social security" when stumping in Florida, or "nothing is more important than American's farmers" when stumping in Iowa), but Mountain Goats are one of my favorite animals to find and photograph. Generally they live on rocky mountains above 5,000 feet and are the largest mammals (in North America) to live above 13,000 feet. They are protected from the elements by their woolly white double coats. The fine, dense wool of their undercoats is covered by an outer layer of longer, hollow hairs (much like polar bear hairs). In spring, mountain goats moult by rubbing against rocks and trees, much like elk and moose shed their "velvet". The billies (males) shed their extra wool first. Typically, the nannies (females) are pregnant at this time and shed after the weather turns warmer. In the winter, their coats help them to withstand temperatures as low as −50 °F and winds of up to 100 mph. In this photo you can see that the goat is starting to shed his outer coat in the area of his left forearm. I like this photo, partly because of the "story" about my climbing to get a view from above. But, also you can see the 130 foot lodgepole pines far below. It adds wonderful contrast as well as perspective on just where this mountain goat and I are. A billy stands about one meter (3 ft) at the shoulder to the waist. Male goats also have longer horns and a longer beard than nannies. Male mountain goats can weigh up to 300 pounds; females up to 200 pounds. And, when you see them it looks like solid muscle, especially throughout the shoulder area.
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