http://www.komonews.com/news/local/105133154.html
My sympathies to the mans’ family. Although we see a lot of them hiking in Glacier NP and they look neat sitting on the rocks around Logan Pass, we do our best to avoid close encounters. Can’t say I’ve heard of anyone being attacked by one and it doesn’t appear the victim was doing anything but trying to shoo the goat away. Very sad.
Regards,
Scott
Wild animal with sharp horns …
I’d guess by summers end, even the goats are tired of having people throw things at them, or scare them by shouting and waving things at them, so their natural protective reaction would be to use the sharp horns. I’m truly sorry for this mans family, and the grief they’re going through.
Every one who has ever yelled at a wild animal, or thrown something at them, shares in the devastation of this family, and any others, attacked by a protective wild animal.
Condolences to the family.
They are unpredictable animals. Many years ago, when I was a Boy Scout, my troop went on a backpacking trip in to the back country north of Mt St Helens (pre-eruption). One day we hiked up to the top of a hill and were joined by a Mountain Goat. He just kind of followed us around within a few feet of us. We could have reached out and touched him. He just acted like part of our herd. He was completely docile. After awhile a storm started blowing in and we headed down the hill. Halfway down my Scoutmaster remembered he had left his binoculars on a stump and headed back up the hill to get them. He was met by the goat, who would not let him pass, became aggressive and chased him off the mountain. He hiked back in later to get his binos.