In an effort to help native bighorn sheep that roam Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), the National Park Service continues its cull of mountain goats that spread disease and pressure wild sheep away from crucial habitat. The effort, which began in 2020, uses both lethal and non-lethal methods. To date, 15 mountain goats were lethally removed in 2023 with roughly 10 to 20 mountain goats remaining, according to Buckrail. 

“If the NPS does not continue to actively manage non-native mountain goats as outlined in the management plan, the population will grow and the threat of competition and pathogen transmission will increase again,” said GTNP officials.

Park officials are following the 2019 Non-native Mountain Goat Management Plan/Environmental Assessment, which outlines out lethal and non-lethal methods of removal, with non-lethal including capture and relocation, according to Buckrail. Other methods included the 70 teams of randomly selected designated shooters who were permitted to shoot goats in several areas after undergoing a mandatory orientation that included a marksmanship test. 

“Managing mountain goats in the park will be an ongoing process,” said GTNP officials. “Our goal is to keep the mountain goat population to a level where impacts on the native bighorn sheep are likely minimal. Because the goats can continue to move into the Tetons from nearby areas, permanent eradication may not be achievable.”

Park officials have not yet conducted an aerial survey to count bighorn sheep to see if removing mountain goats has been successful in keeping populations healthy.