Mountain Goat

The mountain goat is a hoofed mammal native to the rugged mountain ranges of northwestern North America, not a true goat but a distinct species most closely related to antelope-like mammals of the same family, recognized by its shaggy white coat, short black horns present in both sexes, and remarkably specialized cloven hooves with rough, traction-gripping pads suited to climbing near-vertical rock faces. It lives at some of the highest and steepest terrain occupied by any large North American mammal, using inaccessible cliffs as protection from predators, and it feeds on grasses, herbs, shrubs and moss found in these alpine and subalpine environments. Mountain goats are generally solitary or found in small groups, and the species remains stable across its range and is classified as being of least concern.