The Bizarre Way Mountain Goats Ended Up in South Dakota

Sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction. And when it comes to the Mountain Goats of South Dakota, that's most certainly the case.

If you've ever been lucky enough to spot one summiting one of the Black Hills peaks, you've likely never thought about where they came from. But the story of how exactly they got to the Mount Rushmore State in the first place is quite a fascinating one.

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Mountain Goats Aren't Native to South Dakota. How Did They End Up Here?

If you've ever watched a Mountain Goat climbing its way up the majestic Black Hills of South Dakota, it looks pretty natural. Almost like they've been here all along. But, surprisingly, that's completely inaccurate. The sure-footed, white-coated mammal's proper range is in the Rocky and Cascade Mountains, a considerable distance from South Dakota's Black Hills. So, how exactly did they wind up here?

Back in 1924, just six Mountain Goats were brought to Custer State Park from Alberta, Canada. The plan was to make the goats a central part of the Custer State Park Zoo, a major attraction within the park until the 1970s. However, the goats had zero interest in being local celebrities. Within hours of arriving, they staged a daring "Great Escape" that would have made Steve McQueen proud. The goats apparently realized the Black Hills offered a much better view than a zoo enclosure, so they took their career to new heights, literally.

Desperate attempts were made to find the goats and get them back into the zoo, but the jailbreak artists almost completely disappeared. And not only did they survive, but they thrived. After leaving the zoo behind, the goats headed for Black Elk Peak, where they climbed their way to a new life and eventually began breeding.

In just a few decades, the six initial goats blossomed to over 300. However, because of the lack of genetic diversity, the population eventually hit a massive decline, forcing local officials to bring in new Mountain Goats from states like Colorado and Utah. This, ultimately, has been a great thing for the local population, as it's helped broaden the genetic diversity within the state's borders.

So, while the original zoo that brought them here in the first place has long since shut down, the Mountain Goats themselves are only expanding their range. These days, you might even be lucky enough to spot them roaming Mount Rushmore.

To learn more about the Mountain Goats of South Dakota, check out this article from the Black Hills Visitor.

Story Sources: South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Website, Black Hills Visitor Website