MOUNTAIN GOAT

  From time to time I find it important to bring to the front of consciousness how fortunate we are to have such a diversity of wildlife in this area.  For example, while going to where I thought I'd see mountain goats today, I saw a plethora of critters:  deer, elk, bald eagles, waterfowl.  Not a bad way to spend a day off from work.

  Though some people like to bad-mouth goats in this region, I personally enjoy seeing them.  They are very unique looking creatures.  And as a long-time climber and mountain guide, I have tremendous respect for their travel skills.  Some folks will tell you that they run off the bighorn sheep, pushing the sheep into even less hospitable habitat.  Hmmm, there seems to be no persuasive scientific evidence readily available regarding this.  Considering that I can find sheep more easily than goats, I think the balance is sustainable for the time being.  Oh, and we happen to have the largest Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep herd in the world, ... yep, in the world.

  Tonight, as the U.S. President rambles along about his administration's view of the State of the Union, I reflect on the fact that this humble species, the Mountain Goat, has survived for a very long time, something to the tune of approximately 10,000 years before tonight's public address.  Who should we listen to the most?