Snow Goat - description, habitat, lifestyle

Under the snow goat means a mountain animal, ranked as a detachment of artiodactyls. The representative of the porologue family belongs to mammals, lives in cold climatic regions. In today's article we will explore everything that affects these individuals.

Description

1. The animals under discussion fall into the category of large-sized ones when compared to themselves. The height at the withers of an individual can reach a meter with a body length of 1.3-1.7 meters. As for the weight category, goats on average have a mass of about 60-130 kg. Females are a bit smaller, in other aspects sexual dimorphism does not appear.
2. The muzzle is square-shaped, the neck is dense and wide, the limbs are muscular and thick. Some compare snow goats to mountain goats. However, in terms of the format of the horns, they are more likely similar to domesticated animals. Horns grow to 30 cm maximum.They do not have strong bends, there are also no rolls of the transverse type.
3. The fur is dense and fluffy, somewhat similar to a fur coat. The shade is white or grayish. When it comes to the warm season, the animal's coat is softened. She looks velvet. In the winter, it becomes longer and warmer. The hairs are the same in length, but they are shorter in the lower part of the limbs. In the chin area there is a beard, consisting of hard fur.
4. These individuals are large in size, look frightening. Due to the thick layer of wool, their dimensions seem to be increasing. As for the pigmentation of the horns, they can be black in winter, then change to brown-gray or light gray closer to heat. The hooves are pigmented with black. A distinctive feature of these animals is the ability to deftly move on mountain peaks and rocks, they quickly remember the road and do not get lost on the narrow impassable trails.
5. Representatives of the family are distinguished by the ability to jump forward at a distance of up to 7 meters. At the same time the goat quickly jumps from one large stone to another, changing the trajectory. The animals perfectly see both from close up and from far away.They differ from goats in that they do not rush at people, but quietly hide out of sight. When a collision does occur, the individuals use their horns.
6. Some have adapted to contain mammals at home, as they are distinguished by their acumen and ability for quick contact with humans. Residents of cold regions are peaceful, trying to avoid conflict situations and even get along with other animals (for example, cats or dogs).

Habitat

1. These members of the family are attracted to rocky terrain. They settle in southern or eastern Alaska. Individuals are also common in Montana and Oregon. Some of the animals discussed are in Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and Olympic. They are located in Canada, near Alberta. Found in the Yukon and British Columbia.
2. For almost the entire period of its existence, goats live above the level of the forest belt. They climb high on the rocks covered with snow. Accordingly, therefore, got their name. These individuals are characterized by nomadic habitats.In small groups of 3-5 individuals, they move from one place to another. However, there are single goats.
3. When a mammal has liked a plot suitable for living, they stop for a long time as long as there is a food supply. In winter, they are going to a full herd and keep together. Even when a blizzard rages on the rocky peaks, the animals remain steadily in this area. The rest of the inhabitants leave the region in search of more suitable living conditions.
4. Individuals are able to dig depressions in the snow, thus building their overnight stay. They have a thick coat with water-repellent impregnation, which does not allow mammals to freeze throughout the night. Some members of the family live in 3 km. to a height of sea level. They endure even the most severe weather conditions, down to -40 degrees.
5. Remarkably, the family under discussion has not too many enemies in its distribution environment. Predators simply do not live in such conditions, and if they live, they have practically no effect on the number of heads. In the summer, goats hunt goats, they also quickly move over rocks.In the summer, kids are attacked by eagles and other large birds, subsequently dropping the baby from the cliff.
6. None of the species is threatened; they have never been hunted. People simply collected animal fur, then spun and made fabrics. However, the view is protected, so in the near future he is not in danger.

Nutrition

1. The basic ration can hardly be called diverse due to the peculiarities of the territorial distribution. In the mountains, animals eat moss, lichen and other vegetation of this type. They use their hooves and dig them up.
2. In the winter, due to the shortage of food, goats tear off the bark from tree trunks and lean on small bushes. In the summer, they descend a little lower to enjoy greens, fruit and berry fruits, wild crops, needles and leaves.
3. A lot of time is allocated for grazing, animals can do it in the afternoon or closer to twilight. Some go in search of food when the moon shines brightly. These animals are able to overcome large distances at a time to eat. They are hardy and not afraid to move away from home.

The enemies

1. Goats are herbivores, so they have tender and tasty meat. Because of this characteristic, the individuals in question in the wild have many enemies. However, the presented animals are saved by the fact that not all predators can rise to the height where goats live.
2. In addition, the individuals in question have excellent hearing and vision. Therefore, if someone from the group of goats notices any suspicious activity, they immediately leave the occupied territory with the whole herd. They are not in a hurry so as not to create a panic. At this time, the predator does not have enough distance to make the jump.
3. In most cases, individuals can be vulnerable precisely in the autumn-winter season. At such times, the goats descend from the mountains into the valley, where there is a lot of vegetable food. As a result, they lose their natural protection in the form of relief terrain. In some cases, such animals manage to fend off predators with their hooves and horns.
4. The greatest danger to the animals discussed is the puma. A wild cat can climb over steep slopes and rocks on a par with snow goats without any problems.In addition, bald eagles often hunt small goatlings. Such birds of prey represent the greatest threat to the young.
5. It is noteworthy that when the represented individuals begin the mating season, goats and goats become aggressive. They themselves can attack anyone. Therefore, it is better for uninvited guests not to step on their territory. As for the people, they almost never hunted such goats.
6. Of course, goat fur is a welcome trophy, however, if a person rushes after such an animal, he will most likely die by falling off a cliff. The problem also lies in the fact that the individuals in question are gradually losing their habitat. People increasingly occupy the territory. Therefore, goats have to go further into the mountains.

Mating season

1. Approximately from the end of autumn the mating season begins in such animals. Individuals reach sexual maturity at about 3 years. At such times they try to join the group of females.
2. To attract a companion, the males rub horns on the bark of trees, leaving a smelling tag. Often happens that in the herd can be beaten 2 males. In this case skirmishes begin between individuals.Males must prove which one is stronger.

Snow goats are currently on the verge of extinction due to the fact that people inhabit more and more territories. Individuals only have to climb higher in the mountains. Unfortunately, natural predators live in such an area, and there is a lack of plant food. Young birds are often attacked by birds of prey.

Video: snow goat (Oreamnos americanus)