Avalanches are a leading cause of death for Southeast Alaska’s mountain goats

Close up view of an adult male mountain goat in late-winter, near Juneau Icefield, Alaska. In the background, steep avalanche prone slopes are visible. (Photo courtesy of Kevin White)
The mountain goat is one of nature’s most skilled mountaineers. The hooved herds make their way through harsh Alpine terrain with relative ease. And they’ve been living with mountain snow since the Ice Age.
According to wildlife ecologist Kevin White, that also means that they live amid avalanche paths.