[ODFW-News] Rocky Mountain goats transplanted in northeast Oregon

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
For more information call 800-720-6339 (ODFW) or 503-947-6000	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  


For immediate release	Friday, July 30, 2004

Rocky Mountain goats transplanted in northeast Oregon

BAKER CITY - Rocky Mountain goats captured in the Elkhorn Mountains
near Baker City were successfully transplanted at a location near Eagle
Creek in the Wallowa Mountains July 12-16.
The effort was conducted by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
biologists from the Baker and Wallowa districts with help from U.S.
Forest Service personnel, two veterinarians and several volunteers from
the Baker Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association. The transplant is
part of ODFW's continuing effort to re-establish herds in northeast
Oregon.

The goats were trapped using a drop net baited with salt. The net was
set up for about a week before the trapping began to accustom the goats
to the net. A total of 12 goats were captured in three net drops. Of the
12 goats captured, five were males and seven were females.

"Trapping began Monday with the hope and design to capture 15 to 20
goats in one or two days," said George Keister, ODFW's Baker
District biologist. "There were 53 goats seen in the basin on Monday
and things looked really promising when we caught eight goats by
mid-morning."
Things slowed down, however, when the goats left the area Tuesday. The
next evening a nanny and kid finally approached the net, but didn't go
under it. By nightfall Wednesday 21 goats were sighted at the top of the
ridge, but the arrival of a cougar scattered the goats the next morning.
The nanny and kid who previously had approached the net eventually were
caught Thursday evening when they moved under the net to the salt.
Another nanny and yearling came to the net and were captured Friday
morning.

ODFW staff temporarily placed hobbles and horn covers on the goats to
prevent injury, and blindfolded them to reduce stress. Biologists then
took blood samples, inserted ear tags, and administered inoculations of
Ivermectin (a wormer), Bose (a selenium supplement), and penicillin for
any cuts and scrapes. Adult goats then were fitted with radio-collars.
The hobbles and horn covers were removed and the goats were placed in
individual crates for immediate transportation to Eagle Creek, where
they were released. ODFW personnel will monitor their movements and
survival.

Rocky Mountain goats have been released in Oregon on 13 separate
occasions. Six goats (three adult males, two adult females and a female
kid) were first reintroduced into Oregon in 1950. They were transported
from Chopaka Mountain in northern Washington to the Wallowa Mountains by
the Oregon State Game Commission (now the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife).
Attempts to re-establish goats near Tanner Butte in the Columbia Gorge
took place between 1969 and 1976, but low productivity and overharvest
limited the herd's growth. No goats have been reported in the Columbia
Gorge since 1990.

A total of 21 goats were released in the Elkhorn Mountains during the
1980s, using six from Idaho, eight from Washington and seven from
Alaska. Productivity in this herd has been good and the population has
increased rapidly. The population estimate in 2003 was 150 goats.
Individuals from this population continue to move into adjacent habitat
including Vinegar Hill and the Strawberry Mountains.
Sixteen goats were captured in the Elkhorn Mountains in 2002 and
released in Hell's Canyon. This heard had increased to an estimated 40
animals by the end of 2003.
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved ODFW's Bighorn Sheep
and Rocky Mountain Goat Management Plan in September 2003. The plan is
available online at www.odfw at state.or.us.

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