Mountain goats’ muscular makeup and specialized climbing abilities are survival mechanisms: they can travel where predators can’t. Yet despite their goat-like appearance, mountain goats aren’t really goats at all. They prefer to live at high elevations, climbing and scrambling among rocky cliffs. “A Beast the Color of Winter,” mountain goats are indeed snow white. Mountain Goats This herd of mountain goats were visible from the Chain Lakes Loop trail. Listen for their shrill bugle - a downright bone-chilling sound if you’ve never heard it before - at Silver Lake Park in north Whatcom County. Watch for them at dusk and dawn, especially during their fall mating season. Because they live in herds, you’re likely to see more than one at a time. As large members of the deer family, these beasts can weigh up to 700 pounds.Įlk feed on vegetation year-round. You’re most likely to spot Rocky Mountain elk or hybrids (genetically mixed populations of Roosevelt elk and Rocky Mountain elk) in Whatcom County. Photo credit: Jodi Broughton.Īnother mammal that you may hear before seeing, elk can be found grazing among the Cascade foothill meadows. Elk Elk can often be found grazing among the Cascade foothill meadows. They are not particularly afraid of people, and will generally ignore passing hikers as they forage. Like Pika, they live at high elevations above the tree line and eat vegetation. Hoary Marmots are so-called for their silver-gray shoulder and back fur. They hibernate the winter away, surviving on ample fat reserves. Part of the ground squirrel family, marmots are much larger than squirrels, weighing in between 8 and 20 pounds. Hoary Marmots like to bask in the sun on high rock perches, whistling to alert other marmots to possible danger. You’ll likely hear their whistle before spotting them. Marmot This fierce, whistling Hoary Marmot makes its home in the Cascades. Always keep your distance and respect their hard-earned homes. They are surprisingly quick and blend in with their surroundings. Listen for them on trails like the Chain Lakes Loop and Ptarmigan Ridge at the end of Mount Baker Highway. You’ll find Pika at high elevations during summer and fall hikes, sounding their telltale “meep” call. In order to stockpile enough food for winter, they must stay busy the rest of the year gathering their “haypiles.” Pika do not hibernate, but instead gather tiny mouthfuls of vegetation to build their burrows. They prefer to live among rocks and are related to rabbits, after all. These tailless creatures often go by the nickname “rock rabbit” – a telling description. The smallest, cutest mammal on our list is the Pika. Pika This adorable Pika blended perfectly into its rocky habitat in the North Cascades. In this roundup, we’ll introduce several species of wildlife in Whatcom County and recommend useful resources for further reading. And you’ll have better trail stories to tell if you can identify them. Learning about these animals and what to expect from them can put hikers, backpackers, and other explorers at ease in the wild. What are the best practices when recreating in cougar country? What’s that whistling sound? Why do they make it? How do they survive the winter? Larger species may be a cause for concern, especially if your own little ones are in tow. Many of these mammals – particularly the little guys – are often overlooked or misunderstood. At the top of the food chain, ever-elusive cougars hide out in rocky outcroppings and dense vegetation. Mountain goats graze among high-country meadows. From the Chuckanut Mountains to Mount Baker and the Snoqualmie National Forest, the North Cascades are home to a wide variety of wild mammals. Whatcom County forests are alive with wildlife.
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