Aggressive Mountain Goat Tranquilized and Relocated From West Bragg Creek

Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers tranquilized and relocated a mountain goat after it displayed aggressive behaviour toward residents, pets and responding officers at a property in West Bragg Creek late last month.

“On July 27, fish and wildlife officers responded to a property where a mountain goat had been displaying aggressive and defensive behaviour, including toward the homeowner's pets,” Sheena Campbell, director of communications with Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services, said in an emailed statement.

“When officers attempted to haze the animal away from the residence, it stood its ground, stomped and moved toward responding officers. Given the immediate public safety concerns, officers took action to safely remove and relocate the goat.”

The encounter was unusual for the area. Mountain goats typically spend the summer at higher elevations in alpine and subalpine terrain and are rarely encountered outside their typical range in Alberta, according to the province.

However, young male mountain goats, known as billies, sometimes disperse in search of new territory. West Bragg Creek is relatively close to Moose Mountain, where mountain goats are known to live.

The goat was tranquilized and relocated to suitable mountain goat habitat nearby. It is not being monitored following its release.

The province said there have been no other recent mountain goat encounters reported in the area and conflicts between people and the animals are rare.

Despite their name, mountain goats are also different from bighorn sheep, which are a much more common sight at lower elevations throughout the Bow Valley.

Mountain goats have white coats and short, relatively straight black horns on both males and females. Bighorn sheep are generally brown, while males, known as rams, are recognizable by their large, curved horns.