Mountain Goat Count - First ever RMGA survey in Canada

[porthunter]

From an idea just over a month ago, to now a real boots on the ground Mountain Goat Conservation project, right here close to home.

It didn't take long for R (https://www.instagram.com/goatalliance/)ocky Mountain Goat Alliance to reach out as soon as they got word, and now it'll be the first ever RMGA survey happening on our side of the border. I couldn't be more excited about this, and the talk/buzz around town has shown many others are as well.

For anyone interested in taking part, please email lee@goatalliance.org to get signed up and on the email list, I'll also reach out to anyone who I've already spoken to about it as well.

We plan to have many different groups accessing multiple ranges within the Chilliwack River Valley. From road access, to some overnight backcountry areas, this is going to be a great weekend in the name of Mountain Goat Conservation.

Please email in, or message me directly if you have any specific questions.

https://i.imgur.com/sv8YqjI.png

[Huntingtyler123]

Very cool. I sent an email so I can be on the email list

[Cabled]

Thanks for organizing, email sent, count me in.
Mitch

[Ridgehunter604]

Awesome!
just sent an email to get on the list as well.
thanks for organizing.

[twoSevenO]

What is the data going to be used for and by whom? I was not able to find an answer to this on IG.

Also, Is the number of volunteers needed limited or not? Judt curious based on the close access to LM and the fact that the turn out is probably going to be huge.

Thanks!!!!

[porthunter]

What is the data going to be used for and by whom? I was not able to find an answer to this on IG.

Also, Is the number of volunteers needed limited or not? Judt curious based on the close access to LM and the fact that the turn out is probably going to be huge.

Thanks!!!!

I'm currently working on a Project Charter with the Region 2 wildlife and habitat biologist, we will be reviewing the data vs the last known survey over 10 years ago and that was a winter range habitat. Since the late 80's there appears to have been a slow decline in the mountain goat population through out this area. This will be a working project for years to come I plan, this will provide a base number and put more attention on the area to work on what actions may need to be taken for rehabilitation. I'd hope to one day see a herd size that would warrant possibly a tag(s) in the area, but its on the ground work that I believe will lead to that.

My plan is also to open up surveys in future to other areas in the province that may be overlooked.

Volunteer numbers are definitely not limited and we're happy to have more. We will be assigning pre set groups with leads to tackle specific ranges/peaks within the valley. It is quite the area in size so the more people we have out, the more eyes we can put in various spots.

[bangbangkhan]

count me in! I was scrambling up by welch and Foley peak back in 2016 and saw couple of goats.

[Brew]

This is very cool. I hiked into a valley around foley lake one year and counted 28 goats sunning themselves on the grassy slopes.

[whitlers]

Count me in aswell. Will be nice to see some more conservation efforts towards goats in that area and all of BC for that matter.

[porthunter]

This is very cool. I hiked into a valley around foley lake one year and counted 28 goats sunning themselves on the grassy slopes.

Wow, that's the biggest group sighting I've heard of up in that area by far!

[porthunter]

Thanks for the support guys! Just noting again, shoot in an email to Lee@goatalliance.org or just message me directly on here with your name and email and I can get you on the list.

[decker9]

My hat is off you you Jeff! Excellent job on organizing this!, I look forward to the day we see some of these surveys up this way!! Cheers!

[Bubbacanuck]

emailed Lee. Look forward to it. Great idea

[thelongjohnson]

Would love to be a part of this! Seen goats near liumchen.

[porthunter]

Would love to be a part of this! Seen goats near liumchen.

Interesting, that far West wasn't on the Radar(did have Mcguire). May need to send a team up that way as well

[albravo2]

Interesting, that far West wasn't on the Radar(did have Mcguire). May need to send a team up that way as well

Me and buddies have seen them on Brohm Ridge to the north of Squamish and Phantom Lake to the west. We were on dirt bikes up Brohm so that is pretty easy terrain but up Phantom Lake way is floatplane or long hike in, so tougher to survey. Only counted ones and twos in either zone.

[porthunter]

Me and buddies have seen them on Brohm Ridge to the north of Squamish and Phantom Lake to the west. We were on dirt bikes up Brohm so that is pretty easy terrain but up Phantom Lake way is floatplane or long hike in, so tougher to survey. Only counted ones and twos in either zone.

Good to know, I know some concern has been raised with the Sea to Sky goat populations and even with the fire back in the Elaho it is something to keep in mind.

We are going to stick with the Chilliwack Valley for this specific count, but I've definitely been pitching ideas on future counts that way as well as other areas. Getting bios on board and having those chats to see where we need to be is what I'm going to be working on.

[HankBC]

Awesome you guys are getting this done, hopefully there's another huntable population down there to discover.
Cheers Porthunter (jeffagostinho.com) :razz:

[warnniklz]

Wish I was able to participate in this... I'll be ready for next year.

[Bugle M In]

Good on you folks!
Just bumping this up for anyone interested.

[Dirty]

Just a helpful thought if you haven’t looked into it yet. The Chilliwack Fish and Game Club used to conduct a goat count up the valley. They might have records at the club that could help focus your access points and areas for the survey.

[boxhitch]

Good on you for spearheading this in BC
Backcountry use into prime goat habitats is growing with heli and cat skiing and now heli hiking and biking
A good base line numbers would be good to have, from an NGO with no bias, to realize the impacts

[boxhitch]

side note
Mountain bike trails make excellent access routes for alpine hiking ;)

[Red_Mist]

Any feedback from this survey ? I listened to Lee on the Beyond the Kill podcast and he briefly touched upon it. I’m a RMGA member but unfortunately couldn’t attend this time around.

[twoSevenO]

From what I heard only 16 goats were counted. I think guys were spread out from Chilliwack to hope to up the Coq.

My group of 3 was assigned a mountain down the Skagit and I spotted the one and only goat for our group. A lone nanny.

It was a brutally hot weekend to be doing the count and I don't think the numbers will represent the true populations. It was just too hot and nothing was moving. Everything seemed to be bedded down in the shade and out of view.

[Red_Mist]

Thanks for the update. That makes sense about the weather. I think they also are trying to plan for an aerial survey, it all helps. Hopefully I’ll be able to participate the next go round.

[Noreasny]

I was assigned an area we tried to access from silver skagit fsr after 10-11km of bushwhacking we decided to turn back the 42 degree weather made it tough I’m sure with a little more exploring in the area we could find a bit easier route to the alpine