PORT ANGELES — Wildlife biologists will begin a 10-day mountain goat survey in Olympic National Park and parts of Olympic National Forest today.
Olympic National Park officials are also reminding visitors to stay at least 50 yards away from mountain goats and other wildlife.
Biologists with the U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service and state Department of Fish and Wildlife will count non-native mountain goats from a low-flying helicopter focusing on ice-free areas above 4,500 feet in elevation in the early morning hours today through July 21, park officials said.
The helicopter will operate from a landing area at Obstruction Point southeast of Hurricane Ridge. Drivers might encounter brief delays when the helicopter is landing or taking off, park officials said.
“This survey is part of Olympic National Park’s continuing effort to maintain current information about the population of non-native mountain goats,” Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum said in a Monday news release.
“The data collected during this survey will be invaluable to the park’s mountain goat management plan, which is currently under development.”
Preliminary results of the census will be available in September.
The last mountain goat census in 2011 showed there were about 344 goats in the park and adjacent parts of Olympic National Forest, a 5 percent increase from the prior survey in 2004.
The Mount Ellinor area in Mason County, which was not included in the 2011 goat survey, will be part of this year’s census.
Mountain goats were introduced to the Olympic Mountains in the 1920s before Olympic National Park was established.
Because mountain goats are unpredictable, visitors are reminded to keep their distance and keep a close eye on children.
“People should always maintain a distance of at least 50 yards from any park wildlife,” Creachbaum said.
Mountain goats have sharp horns and powerful bodies that can inflict significant or lethal injuries.
In 2010, a mountain goat fatally gored Robert Boardman on Klahhane Ridge south of Port Angeles.
Boardman, 63, encountered the 370-pound goat while hiking with friends on the Switchback Trail.
The National Park Service is preparing an environmental impact statement for managing the non-native mountain goat population.
For information on the effort, go to www.parkplanning.nps.gov/olymgoat.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.