Mountain Goat Transplant Project
Several decades
ago, over-hunting and resource extraction caused central Idaho mountain goat
populations to crash. Idaho Fish and Game biologists determined that,
because unique habitat and social requirements cause goats to recover very
slowly, if at all, the Salmon River population would not recover without
assistance. Meanwhile, introduced goat populations in the Palisades
area and the Seven Devils Mountains were nearly overutilizing available
habitats. Goat translocation was an obvious solution, but department
budgets wouldn't allow it.
In 1997 SCI's
Idaho Chapter provided $5,000 (including SCI matching grants) to transplant
mountain goats from Hell's Hole in the Palisades. Ten goats were
helicopter net-gunned, hobbled and flown to a Big Elk Creek staging area.
The goats were sampled, given antibiotics, ground transported and released
near Shoup on the Salmon River.
In 1999, $10,000
was provided by SCI's Idaho Chapter, Treasure Valley Chapter, Silver State
Chapter, Wisconsin Chapter, New England Chapter, Georgia Chapter, Napa
Valley Chapter, Lehigh Valley Chapter, Western and Central New York Chapter,
and New York TriState Chapter to radio-collar and relocate seven goats from
Riggins to Mallard Creek. As in 1997, SCI Idaho provided volunteer
ground crews to assist Idaho Fish and Game biologists. Goat transplant
boxes were provided by SCI's Inland Empire Chapter. A generous
donation also was received from SCI members, Mr. and Mrs. Victor M.
Smith, Sr. Recent surveys reveal that these goats have adjusted to
their new homes and are reproducing.
