New Efforts Help Boost East Humboldt Mountain Goat Herd
It all began during Nevada’s centennial anniversary in 1964 when six mountain goats, captured in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State, were transported and released into the Ruby Mountains.
A follow up effort occurred in 1967, when another six mountain goats were captured from the same area and added to the small herd. Fourteen years later in 1981, 11 mountain goats were captured from Olympic National Park and released into the East Humboldt range. These three translocation efforts made for the humble beginnings of Nevada’s Ruby Mountain and East Humboldt Mountain goat populations.
Combined, both herds reached their highest population level in 2009 at around 400 adults. However, a disease event occurred during the winter of 2009–2010 and both herds experienced mortality in all age classes. The Ruby Mountain herd recovered more quickly than the East Humboldt herd, which battled high mortality rates for baby goats (kids) for more than a decade. This caused the East Humboldt herd to decline down to as low as 50 adults by 2019. In 2021, however, ground surveys found the exciting news that more kids were born and recruitment, or kids who were able to survive to adulthood had increased.
Additionally, from 2019–2024, 21 mountain goats were captured, collared, and tested for disease. All test results came back negative for the deadly pathogen.
Since 2021, Area 10 game biologists have organized several summer kid surveys with teams of biologists and volunteers covering many miles on foot to identify nanny (adult female goat) nursery groups. The summer samples were then compared to the winter aerial surveys to confirm recruitment. The two surveys in the summer of 2024 were highly successful in documenting high production and recruitment in the East Humboldt Range.
During this most recent period, NDOW estimated that over half the nannies were 9 years or older. With most goats living to 10–12 years, NDOW feared that it would lose half the nannies to old age and the herd recovery would once again be at risk. Therefore, biologists reached out to a few western states asking for source stock. Fortunately for Nevada, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) answered the call.
NDOW and UDWR collaborated to evaluate the genetic diversity of both the source and transplant mountain goat herds in the Tushar Mountains of Utah, the East Humboldt Range, the Ruby Mountains, other herds across the western U.S., and the original herd in Washington. The results confirmed that the Utah source herd would contribute valuable genetic diversity to Nevada’s mountain goat populations. Based on these findings, NDOW identified potential release sites on private land in the East Humboldt Range and made contingency plans to address possible weather and trailer access issues.
Once the capture day arrived in November of 2024, a team consisting of over fifty people that included both UDWR and NDOW staff, volunteers from both states and the dedicated pilot and staff from Heliwild Capture Company, joined at Eagle Point Ski Resort near Beaver, Utah. Each mountain goat was brought to the base camp and carefully weighed, and evaluated for a multitude of samples including nasal swabs for disease tests, vital rates and temperatures, body condition scores, blood collection, unique ear tags, and a light sedative to reduce stress during transport to Nevada. Each adult goat was fitted with a GPS collar to track its movements and survival in their new home. The plan was to bring 15 mountain goats back to the East Humboldts in one trip. Unfortunately, weather conditions became unsafe for the capture crew, so only 12 mountain goats made their way to Nevada on the first transport. However, a smaller crew returned to Utah three days later, to return with four more animals. The second trip was critical because it provided a 33% increase in the number of mountain goats headed to Nevada.
NDOW staff, retirees, volunteers and families all gathered to help with the release of the first 12. The first release site was on the newly acquired public access corridor for Pole Canyon and the upper Franklin River drainage. A special thanks goes to Ecotrust Forest Management (EFM) for access to their property for the release. The four late comers were released on private land near Angel Lake three days later.
Overall, 16 Rocky Mountain Goats were released into the East Humboldts of Elko County. Of the 16 goats, there were 10 mature nannies, three yearlings (goats aged 1-2 years old), and three kids (one female, two males). Daily monitoring of the GPS collars in the first two weeks showed various movement with some grouping and heading toward Humboldt Peak. As of early April, four of the nannies have moved south into Unit 102 to the Soldier Peak area. The four mountain goats released near Angel Lake, traveled long distances and met up with a group of resident GPS collared goats, which was exactly what NDOW had hoped they would do.
This augmentation was only possible with the help from our partner organizations and landowners: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance, Heliwild Capture Services, Elko Bighorns Unlimited, NBU Fallon, and NBU-Reno, Ecotrust Forest Management, Memory Ranches, and Duval Ranching Company.
