Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus)

WHA planning objectives

Maintain limiting habitats, other than winter range, such as natal areas and escape terrain.

Wildlife habitat area

WHAs should be established in critical habitat areas such as natal areas and escape terrain. These areas are expected to be primarily upper slope areas. WHAs will generally be 50 ha or smaller.

GWM management objectives

Maintain WHA in a natural state.

Minimize access to control and prevent human disturbance, and to avoid invasions of non-indigenous plants into grassland communities.

Avoid disturbance to natal area.

General wildlife measures

These measures must be applied within a WHA approved for the species. Natal times are generally between April 15 and July 15. However, times may vary by location. MELP should be consulted for location-specific times. Access Do not construct roads unless the district manager and regional fish and wildlife manager are satisifed there is no other practicable option and the variance is approved by the district manager and regional fish and wildlife manager. Deactivate new non-permanent roads after use. Limit road use within natal WHAs during natal times unless variance is approved by the district manager and regional fish and wildlife manager. Range Maintain grassland seral stage distribution as specified by regional wildlife and range staff. Silviculture Do not use helicopters in the WHA to remove timber during critical times. Consult MELP for appropriate times.

Management considerations (not mandatory)

Winter range is an important aspect of mountain goat habitat; however, it is not considered in the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy because it is covered by a specific regulation (Section 69) in the Operational Planning Regulations.

Landscape unit planning considerations (not mandatory)

Most herds move from high elevation summer ranges to low elevation forested winter ranges. Each herd will use a system of rocky, rough, escape terrain; summer foraging sites; winter forest cover and kidding areas. Connectivity should be maintained between these areas by providing travel corridors in habitats with suitable forage and escape terrain. These linkage requirements should be considered and accommodated within any forest ecosystem networks that are established through a landscape unit plan.