In May 2002, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife launched a study on mountain goats in Washington. The study will have two main objectives: to standardize and improve methods for estimating mountain goat populations; and investigate the causes of mountain goat population declines.

Mountain goats are distributed irregularly in Washington from the Canadian border, south along the Cascades Mountains to Mount Adams, and in the Olympic Mountains. However, goat numbers have been declining in many areas while the reasons for this remain unclear. The number of goat units with permits and the number of permits in open units has been reduced commensurately. Understanding why numbers have declined may enable us to recover populations, which will result in more viewing and hunting opportunity for the public.

The Department is currently in the process of organizing funding for this effort and selecting the best study areas. Cooperative arrangements are being developed with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, Washington universities, and Sauk-Suiattle Tribe.