Environment

National Park Warns: Don’t Pee Near Trails…Because of the Killer Goats

National Park Warns: Dont Pee Near Trails...Because of the Killer GoatsHikers in Olympic National Park in Washington state are being urged not to urinate along backcountry trails in order to avoid attracting mountain goats who lick the urine deposits for salt.

The warnings are part of a plan that comes in the wake of a man’s death last October after a mountain goat gored him in the thigh.

Louise Johnson, the park’s chief of natural resources management, told the Peninsula Daily News that urging visitors not to relieve themselves is “a new concept.”

“We’re trying to get a better understanding of the behavior of mountain goats and their attraction to salt,” Johnson said.

Park officials also plan to engage in “aversive conditioning” of goats spotted in the area, including setting off sirens and compressed air horns, and shooting rubber projectiles and bean bags.

Aversive conditioning will be used by park staff for all animals that do not habitually move off a trail when a hiker approaches, even if they can be easily shooed away.

According to the plan, “The key action to prevent hazardous encounters with mountain goats is to not let them get habituated to human presence.”


(report from October, 2010)

Comments (92)

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  • BurntHills
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:33pm

    saw goats like that at the zoo.. they are HUGE. not at all what you would expect. HUGE. imagine that coming at ya topspeed when you …..aren’t exactly ready to RUN

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • quicker
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:32pm

    Maybe we could send some of these gaots to our Arab freinds.A gaot that fights back.

    Report Post » quicker  
  • MrObvious
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:02pm

    Wonder how long the media will milk this story.

    Report Post »  
    • wordweaver
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:35pm

      You could milk a nanny goat story, but I think this was about a billy goat. It won’t last long.

      Report Post » wordweaver  
  • SaltyCracker
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:01pm

    Hey, pee in my yard and I’m on you like stink. Unless you’re drinking my beer, of course.

    Report Post »  
  • mohavegreen
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:57pm

    What’s UBL wannabe going to do when searching for a few virgins if the “park service” uses aversive conditioning?

    Report Post » mohavegreen  
  • ThoreauHD
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:48pm

    It also attracts bears. If you pee where another animal has already marked the area, guess what that means. This is part of why hunters have multiple ways of minimizing human scent. It’s hard to hunt something that knows where you are and wants to kill you.

    Report Post » ThoreauHD  
  • LifeandLiberty2
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:46pm

    Remember, there are undoubtedly countless very highly paid government employees that are right now studying, researching and writing a number of new government regulations designed to keep you off the trails. In addition, I’ll also bet that there will be a very expensive research grant coming soon.

    Report Post »  
  • Mr_Meaner
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:43pm

    Do they have a hunting season for the goats?
    This sure saves money. No need for scents.
    Just take a leak, kick back against a rock, and wait for supper.
    I may move there

    Report Post »  
    • wordweaver
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:55pm

      Hunting is not permitted inside of Olympic Nat’l Park, and the goats appear to know the boundaries. I’ve seen a few folks who pack a sidearm when they hike for self-defense, but I’m not sure how the Park Service feels about that. Bet that one group who was attacked by the goat wishes they had been packin’.

      Report Post » wordweaver  
    • booger71
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:58pm

      I don’t go anywhere in National park or Forest lands without some kinda heat. If grizzlies are present, then I pack big heat.

      Report Post » booger71  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 8:37pm

      are they Spider Goats ?
      It may sound bizarre and repulsive to more than a few, but Canadian scientists working to create hybridized animal DNA have already worked to develop goats that can make silk from their milk after splicing their genes with spiders. Goats that are 1/70,000th spider have been successfully created. But the next splice from what some have deemed a carnival of genetic horrors may be the splicing of mouse and pig DNA to create what is being commonly referred to as “Enviropigs.” But would you eat a pig that had been spliced with mouse DNA?

      http://www.unexplainable.net/Political-Conspiracies/Spider-Goats-and-Mouse-Pigs-Is-it-What-s-for-Dinner-or-a-GMO-Horror-Story.shtml

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • ADNIL
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:42pm

    Golly, we sure are turning into a NAAAAAANY state. (pardon the pun)

    Report Post »  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:39pm

    Back up against a tree and pee so you can see what’s sneaking up on you.
    Four guys to a tree so you can scan the four cardinal points at once.
    If no trees are available, just back up against each other.

    This is beginning to sound gay.

    Report Post » Rayblue  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:21pm

      Goats like this live mostly on the mountains above the tree line. In the woods, go wherever you want. Itt helps keep the bears away.

      Report Post »  
  • wordweaver
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:33pm

    “Leave No Trace” education gives great advice for how to answer nature’s call in the wilderness responsibly. The “goat hazard” in the Olympics is pretty limited to certain high elevation areas and those areas can provide special guidance to hikers with signage. The places these animals frequent are not typically where hikers stay for long periods or camp overnight, so the no pee rule is probably workable in most cases. But hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

    Report Post » wordweaver  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:29pm

    The liberal wachoes will have a hard time with this one because they listen to no one.

    Report Post »  
  • Thighmaster
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:29pm

    A few other good things to remember, dont tug on superman’s cape, don’t spit into the wind, don’t pull the mask off the ole lone ranger ……..

    Report Post » Thighmaster  
  • junior1971
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:24pm

    I woder if they are working on a plan to curtail all other animals from urinating (and worse) outdoors as well? Are they really trying to say that this man was killed by an offended goat who was upset that he was urinating on his mountain?

    Report Post » junior1971  
  • florida123
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:03pm

    New National Park Sign, NO Urinating while hiking, Violators will be fined. I guess hikers will just have to hold it hope their bladders are up for the task…………ROFL

    Report Post » florida123  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:01pm

    I am sorry, but in Yellowstone if you pee to far off the trail, your libel to get killed by a grizzly. I am sorry for the family who lost their loved one. I say either build more porto potties on trails, or stay off the trails.

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • florida123
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:05pm

      How about packing a gun with you as you hike the forest…….Now thats a novel idea!

      Report Post » florida123  
    • GBMBulletsSKNRD
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 5:39pm

      Abby,

      I am sorry but you are a pinhead. No one wants to go hiking and see a Porto Pottie. If you don’t know how to take a dump in the woods. Don’t go into the woods.

      Report Post »  
  • BonnieBlueFlag
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:58pm

    Utterly ridiculous. One more thing they think modern man should fear: DEADLY MOUNTAIN GOATS. Hunter S Thompson had us pegged with his title Kingdom of Fear. Let’s grow up folks.

    Report Post » BonnieBlueFlag  
  • hcartexas
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:57pm

    I like to pee on liberals…. cause i like to watch goats lick them….

    Report Post » hcartexas  
  • raydg
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:46pm

    I guess that we should have no one enter the Nationals Parks now as someone might get hurt.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:57pm

      Agreed .. look at the bear attack … these parks are full of wildlife … shock? NOT! I don’t want to go “anywhere” where I have to pee outside…. and where are you supposed to pee if not right off the trail? Go further into the “wildlife”?

      Report Post »  
  • johnsell
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:43pm

    Kind of gets your goat doesn’t it?

    Report Post »  
    • bcope01
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:36pm

      Tee Hee.

      Report Post » bcope01  
    • chazman
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 5:09pm

      These goats are about as stupid as Bill Mahr, lickin’ pee off the hiking trails. Disgusting animals … Maybe the forest service should put out a salt block or two. We can’t have goats running around with pee on their breath, now can we?

      Report Post »  
  • 2smart
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:42pm

    I guess they should add to that don’t pee into the wind. I might be missing something here or I guess I don‘t know what I’m talking about but why doesn’t the park service place salt licks along the trail. Oh yeah, the current administration has slashed the Park Service budget.

    Report Post » 2smart  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:39pm

    What a hoot! Now guys know the indignity of living in the outdoors. For women, it is really tough where hygienic issues are concerned. I never could do all that stuff and usually continued outdoor “fun” (NOT) times with soaking socks and shoes. Back when we were little, there weren’t such comfortable sandals, etc. as there are now. It WAS a BIG DEAL way back in the olden times…. *sigh*

    Report Post »  
  • louise
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:35pm

    sounds like we need new regulations drawn up. (sarc)

    Report Post » louise  
  • sodun
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:32pm

    Hiking unarmed in the forest is unwise.

    Report Post » sodun  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:32pm

    Oh boy…….okay were are the portable potties.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:46pm

      When in nature and nature calls, do as mother nature would have you do, It is better to go, when you got to go, than to go, and find out you already went!

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • Uncurable wound
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 2:58pm

      Shoot the stupid GOAT,then you can pee on him.LOL

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:04pm

      @Uncurable:

      The goats are just following their natural instincts…yet goat tasted good when basted properly over the fire…hmmm.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:13pm

      It may attract Jihadi’s too.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
    • joe3
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:15pm

      femoral arteries are easily gorged by wild pigs as well, that will bleed you dry fast. the best thing to do is yes not pee near the path, but also to hunt them, that keeps them at bay.

      Report Post »  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:39pm

      OK, lets see, NO firearms in the park and now NO urinating on the trail. Kind of limits how far you can travel.

      Report Post »  
    • Uncurable wound
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:43pm

      snow-I know,just having a little fun,feeling a little ornery.
      For all you kids out there-Dont pee on goats-its a bad habit,I should know…
      You can shoot them,just dont pee on them.
      Remember _Knowing is half the battle-GI JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!

      OK Ive lost it,-and Im way ahead of you on LAYING off so much cough syrup in the morning…
      Its just when that first taste hits your lips…..ROFL-have a great day everyone!

      Report Post »  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:59pm

      This reminds me of when our construction company was doing a job in the Sierra Mtns. in California. They had ‘inspectors’ walking around everywhere looking for violations. It’s against the law in Ca. to pee in the woods……Seriously! An equipment operator working with us had to ‘go’ and got caught. He got a 1,600.00 dollar fine for peeing behind a tree……I’m not joking! It wasn’t because of animals. It seems Ca. thinks that peeing in the woods is enviormentally un-friendly.
      I guess if you are hairy and walk on all fours, then it’s okay…………..

      Report Post » Rational Man  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:14pm

      Just where did they expect him to go? The operator should have given the “inspector” some water and then followed him around. We ALL gotta go sometime.

      Report Post »  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 8:20pm

      @ right-wing-waco

      There were porta-johns scattered around, but not close at hand. None of us felt that we should have to shut the job down every time someone had to take a quick leak. Everyone waiting for the operator to get back so we could get back to work.
      I heard that the job superintendant tried to get the fine revoked or reduced. Don’t know if he got it done though.
      I never did quiet understand why human urine was considered ‘toxic’, or whatever, to the environment……..But that’s California for ya!

      Report Post » Rational Man  
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