Don’t have the full context on this video of a group of visitors at Montana’s Glacier National Park filmed getting super up close to a mountain goat and its kid but its safe to say they did not take evasive maneuvers and just stood around and filmed. Not much you can do if goat just pops out of the woods and falls within the 75 foot recommended distance GNP advises visitors maintain from this species but these folks didn’t seem to budge and give way to the animals. Here’s a general guideline to photographing wildlife in National Parks:
When photographing wildlife in a park:Â .
— Follow park rules and regulations on how far away you should stay from wildlife.
— Stay on the safe side of barriers and railings.
— If you want to take a picture of the animals, use a zoom lens on your camera. If you are close enough to take a selfie, you are wayyyy too close.
— If you see an animal, you are responsible for backing up to a safe distance, even if the animal moves toward you.
Mountain goats are commonly seen in Glacier National Park. It’s estimated that the park has one of the largest populations of mountain goats in the lower 48 states. However, declining numbers in parts of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem and pressures from climate change are causing concern for the health of this species. Like other alpine species, mountain goats are sensitive to habitat conditions. They rely on high, cool, rocky terrain for their survival. Glacier is currently experiencing warming three times the global average at higher elevations. It is uncertain how a warming climate will affect mountain goats, but the park is near the southern extent of the mountain goat’s native range. If climatic conditions continue to shift, goat populations at the southern end of their range will cease to exist and the overall suitable habitat for mountain goats will shrink.
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