Conservation Blog

Through our social media outlets, we recently held a contest requesting photographic evidence of the first kid mountain goats of 2015. We offered a prize package of RMGA branded merchandise. The competition was fierce and many capable conservationists and photographers alike hit the mountains in search of the fresh kid goats. The first submission arrived on May 20th from the Humboldt mountains of northern Nevada by RMGA member, Chris Anderson, Joe Hoffman, and Cole Bleke. Congratulations, Men! You are our 2015 Kid Goat Photo Contest winners! RMGA Life-Member, Darryn Epp, wasted no time submitting his kid goat photos 24-hours later on May 21st...

Our 2015 Black Hills survey was another great success. Volunteers from several different states assembled in the name of conservation to, once again, assist South Dakota Game Fish & Parks with their spring goat count. Although the weekend was plagued with rain showers and thunderstorms, we had dozens of volunteers that still managed to get in the field and contribute hundreds of hours to this vital survey. For the first time in nine years, South Dakota has proposed a mountain goat hunting season with two available permits for the fall of 2015. This opportunity is a direct result of conservative...

On August 9th & 10th of 2014, the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance rallied the troops for a weekend of volunteering in the Madison Range of southwest Montana. For years, Montana’s mountain goat HD-326 has produced harvest successes below the states target of 80%. As harvest success often relates to mountain goat population size, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks worried the population had declined. The area under investigation currently offers six tags every year. Three teams of Goat Alliance volunteers distributed themselves across the search area for a two day census. The terrain was steep, the temperatures were high, and the...

Early June found the RMGA in attendance at the Northern Wild Sheep & Goat Council biannual symposium in Ft. Collins, Colorado. The assembly of the continent’s leading researchers, biologist, wildlife managers, and non-profits was an exciting place for the RMGA to discuss natural sciences and potential future mountain goat projects alike. As expected, most people had never heard of the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance. We relished at the opportunity to introduce the Alliance and brainstorm how our growing organization could be most beneficial to regional management across the west. Our days were filled with diverse presentations covering everything from pneumonia...

The room was full of conversation as over 30 volunteers from six states introduced themselves. In the front, a half dozen college students from Nebraska State College socialized. To their left, a 74-year-old Alaskan outfitter examined a data sheet. Behind him, a local 11-year-old, home-schooled girl and her mother relished in the possibility of sighting there first mountain goat ever. The colors of the team of volunteers were nothing short of bright. Breakfast, coffee, data sheets, and maps circulated around the room while everyone took their seats. Total strangers assembling in the name of conservation. The task at hand was...