One of 45 goats released at Mt. Jefferson. Photo by Jim Yuskavitch.
For the first time in more than a century, wild Rocky Mountain goats are back home in the Central Oregon Cascades.
45 goats – relocated from the Elkhorn Mountains – were released Tuesday at the base of Mt. Jefferson. It’s part of an ongoing effort to help the Rocky Mountain goat recover in the state.
The Rocky Mountain Goat was first spotted in the Dry Canyon area east of Bend. Photo from ODFW.
In just a few months, a lone Rocky Mountain Goat has become one of the most popular celebrities in Central Oregon.
Often spotted along Hwy 20 east of Bend, the male goat was first seen last December. As far as anyone knows, he’s the only one of his kind in the area.
That’s enough for him to earn some special attention from Oregon Fish and Wildlife. Last week, ODFW captured and collared the goat so they can keep better tabs on him.
