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Mountain goats: Friends or Foes of the Olympics? The United States government and park officials are considering killing all of the mountain goats in the park, due to concerns that they may not be a native species and are doing damage to the park. An independent panel study has confirmed that that the goats were impacting the soil, alpine plants, and plant communities. They say that the goats were introduced into the park in the 1920s, and for the last 25 years there has been research done on that topic. Now that it has been conclusively said that they are not native and cause damage, the authorities are taking steps to reduce the goat population. The descision is not without opposition. Although eleven conservation organizations have petitioned the park to remove the goats, it has been said by others that the goats are not as much of a threat as originally thought. There is published evidence that goats have been sighted in 1917 and as far back in 1844. In two expeditions by the Seattle Press in 1890 and National Geographic in 1896 documented mountain goats. There are statistics saying that goat numbers have fallen since the early 80's, as well as material that states that there are unaddressed environmental risks in eradication, risks to personnel, and that the cost of eradication will be higher than the alternatives. But the Park Service is sticking with its descision. |
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