JACKSON, Wyo. — As of today, 56 non-native mountain goats have been killed in Grand Teton National Park by an aerial goat cull operation.
Fifty goats were removed on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and another six were removed this morning, said Jeremy Barnum, Grand Teton National Park’s chief of staff.
Since Feb. 23, aerial goat culling operations have been conducted in the northern areas of the Teton range. Barnum explained that the canyons north of Cascade Canyon, where most of the herd was concentrated, are difficult for qualified volunteers to access and have few hiking trails.
“Invariably there are going to be a few stragglers out there but we think we have removed almost all of the nonnative mountain goats,” Barnum said.
In February 2020, aerial operations killed 36 mountain goats but the park suspended the operation after pushback from Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and moved to a volunteer hunting program. Qualified volunteer hunters harvested 43 goats in 2020 and another 20 goats in 2021.
The nonnative mountain goats were introduced in the Snake River Range a few decades ago. Since then, the goats have migrated to the Teton range and pose the threat of disease to the native bighorn sheep herd. The animals also compete for similar resources.
“The native bighorn sheep population has been around for millennia, at least since the last ice age,” Barnum said.
Barnum said the park would continue operations through tomorrow and then assess the next steps.
Signs are posted at trailheads, warning backcountry users of the operations. Most backcountry users are concentrated in the southern area of the range, Barnum explained, and should feel comfortable recreating in that area.
“The helicopter operator will not pursue any areas with skiers or ski tracks,” Barnum said.
