#oreamnos

Mountain Goats (Oreamnos americanus), family Bovidae, Mt. Timpanogos, UT, USA

A mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) in Skamania County, WA, USA

Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in the middle of shedding their winter coats in Wyoming, USA

The Circle of Life. This July, I traveled up the Beartooth Scenic Highway to photograph mountain goats at the summit. I spent most of the morning of July 3rd observing two different herds (bands) with several kids (yes, that's actually what young mountain goats are called!). Toward the end of the morning, three kids suddenly bolted toward the cliff edge, their mothers quickly following. Curious, I repositioned to get a better look — and that’s when I saw what had drawn them. Just below, resting on a narrow rocky ledge surrounded by grass and wildflowers, lay the body of a deceased adult mountain goat, which had obviously not been there long. Over the next 20 to 30 minutes, several kids and adults gathered around the goat. Each taking turns, approached it cautiously, as if investigating — perhaps even mourning. I believe this goat was part of the first, larger herd I had seen earlier in the day in the same area. It was a somber moment. Unfortunate, yes, but natural. Whether from illness, injury, or simply old age, this goat had reached the end of its life. And yet, standing all around it was new life — healthy, vibrant, and curious. It felt important to document that contrast — the quiet, powerful truth that life and death are always intertwined in nature. One ends, and another begins.

Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus), juvenile, family Bovidae, Colorado, USA