GOATS IN THE CROSSHAIRS
Managers at
Olympic National Park propose shooting mountain goats to save the
stuff they graze, wallow and walk on – native plants. A recent
draft environmental impact statement recommends killing the park’s
300 non-native goats rather than transferring them outside the
park, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Park managers say
efforts to trap and remove the goats in the 1980s were dangerous to
employees, traumatic for the goats and too costly at $1,000 per
animal. The impact statement also rules out sterilization because
it wouldn’t prevent further damage to the ecosystem during the
remainder of the goats’ lives. Goats threaten 33 rare or unique
plants particular to the peninsula, including one endangered
species candidate, the Olympic Mountains milk vetch, according to
the draft. Park Service officials anticipate public outrage over
killing an animal that many consider both beautiful and symbolic of
primitive America. “I have no doubt, if they try to fulfill their
commitment to kill the mountain goats, we will challenge them in
federal court,” says Cathy Sue Anunsen of The Fund for Animals. She
says the Park Service can’t prove mountain goats harm native
plants. Wildlife managers have faced similar uproars over killing
burros in the Grand Canyon, feral pigs in Hawaii and sea lions
gorging on salmon in Seattle. The comment period on the EIS closes
July 17. To obtain a copy, write to Olympic National Park, 600 East
Park Avenue, Port Angeles, WA 98362 or call
360/452-0321.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Goats in the crosshairs.
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