Wilderness And … Montana’s Mountain Goats: A Wilderness Icon

Of North America’s large mammals, there is one that lives higher, steeper, and more remote than any other. Perhaps the greatest mountaineer the peaks have ever known, the mountain goat is the subject of Montana wildlife biologist and photographer Bruce Smith’s presentation.

Bruce’s two years living among mountain goats in Montana’s Selway- Bitterroot Wilderness began a 50-year fascination with North America’s matchless mountaineer. In this program, he’ll discuss details of the mountain goat’s natural history, behavior, and wilderness realm.

In the second half of the program, he’ll share results of a statewide status review of Montana’s goats, which revealed starkly different fortunes of native and introduced goat populations and the conservation challenges they face.

Dramatic photographic images from his book “Life on the Rocks: A
Portrait of the American Mountain Goat,” which won the National Outdoor Book Award, will accompany his discussion.

Following the presentation, Bruce will be signing copies of his books.

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Photo by Bruce Smith