Figure 1. Mountain Goats Nanny and Kid.
Mountain goats are not native in greater Yellowstone area, but were introduced decades ago. They ventured into Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in recent years and caused concerns. For example, bighorn sheep may suffer because of the competition.
One place to see these goats is at the Snake River Canyon around Alpine, which is about 30 minutes south of Jackson, WY. These goats might be seen just couple miles north of Alpine on US-89 along Snake River, though my first sight of them was on US-26 west of Alpine in Idaho.
It is more likely to see them here in winter. When doing snow plowing, salt is commonly placed on the highway to help melt the ice. Goats love salt, and this is why they are rather sighted in winter than in summer.
When I made a trip to Grand Teton National Park during Thanksgiving in 2015, I saw a herd come to the road to lick the salt. It's fun to see, but it causes traffic hazards. There are couple turnouts at this section to look for goats, but be cautious when you are driving here.
Figure 1. Mountain Goats Licking Salt on Highway US-89.
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