# Mountain Goat (*Oreamnos americanus*)

> The mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) is a sure-footed climber of alpine cliffs in western North America from Alaska and Yukon to Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Adults weigh around 80 kg, wear shaggy white coats, and graze alpine meadows. Listed Least Concern, with some introduced herds outside historic range.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Alpine cliffs of western North America from Alaska and Yukon to Washington, Idaho, and Montana.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/mountain-goat/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Bovidae
- **Genus:** Oreamnos

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Oreamnos americanus |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Alpine cliffs, meadows, and scree |
| Lifespan | Around 12 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 80 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 25 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Cloven hooves on granite

Soft, grippy foot pads and muscular shoulders let goats traverse ledges predators cannot follow. Both sexes have black, slightly curved horns (not shed annually like deer antlers).

## Alpine meadow browser

Diet includes grasses, herbs, mosses, and low shrubs of alpine and subalpine zones. Mineral licks draw herds to cliffs in spring. Across its range it is tied to alpine cliffs, meadows, and scree, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Alaska to Cascades peaks

Alpine cliffs, meadows, and scree of western North America from Alaska and Yukon south to Washington, Idaho, and Montana; introduced populations exist in some ranges.

## Climate and disturbance

Least Concern overall. Recreational disturbance at high-use peaks and shifting snow regimes are local concerns; hunting is regulated where permitted.

## Frequently asked questions

### Are mountain goats true goats?

They are caprines related to goat-antelopes; not the same species as domestic goats.

### Do mountain goats shed their horns?

No — horns are permanent and grow throughout life.

### How do mountain goats climb cliffs?

Specialised hooves with rubbery pads and sharp edges grip tiny rock holds.

### What is a baby mountain goat called?

A young mountain goat is called a kid — that is the usual English name for a young mountain goat.

### Where do mountain goats live?

Alpine cliffs of western North America from Alaska and Yukon to the northwestern United States.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/mountain-goat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.