More than 100 mountain goats removed from Olympic National Park in first operation

Wildlife officials finished removing more than 100 mountain goats from Olympic National Park this week, and relocated most of them to various sites in the northern Cascades, according to a news release from the National Park Service

A helicopter crew used tranquilizer darts and net guns to capture the mountain goats and transported them in slings to Hurricane Ridge. The goats then were examined by veterinarians, loaded in crates and transported to their new homes. More than 175 people in all worked on the operation.

In all, 115 mountain goats were captured. Of those, 98 mountain goats — 68 female and 30 male — were moved to the northern Cascade Mountains. Eight mountain goats died during the capture and three were euthanized. Six were moved to Northwest Trek wildlife park near Eatonville.

Additional relocation operations are expected to continue next year and maybe the year after.

Officials have long sought to remove non-native mountain goats from Olympic National Park to protect people and native plants. In May, the National Park Service announced it would remove about 725 mountain goats on the Olympic Peninsula. The plan approved by park officials in June calls for about 375 goats to be moved to habitat in the North Cascades, where the animals are native. Park officials say the remaining goats that can’t be caught will eventually be shot and killed.

This story was originally published September 27, 2018 at 2:20 PM.