According to an AP report picked up by the Statesman (but originally from the Peninsula Daily News), hikers in Olympic National Park (upstate Washington, nearish to Bremerton) are being told not to urinate near trails.
Why? Apparently, hiker urine attracts “aggressive goats”. At least one person has been gored to death in the past year (which gives the Olympic goats a body count equal to the Yellowstone bears).
In addition, park staff plan to implement “adverse conditioning”
…such as setting off sirens and compressed air horns, and shooting rubber projectiles and bean bags.
Actually, I had three reasons for linking to this story:
- Slow news day.
- The use of the phrase “long, linear salt licks“.
- It gives me a chance to ask the question: what gun for goat?
But they’re attracted to restrooms, too!
http://www.cws.org/~joed/trip2010/rt2010-085.jpg
In a national park? Something non-lead.
Joe:
You know, when I was probably about 4 years old, I had my lip split open by an aggressive goat at a petting zoo. And that was pretty traumatic. I can’t imagine the trauma involved in having an aggressive goat between you and the bathroom…
Earl:
Well, checking into the matter, it appears you can get lead-free .44 magnum ammo…
You should have seen the woman who came out of the women’s room on the other side. She wasn’t expecting to come face-to-face with a mountain goat.
That was taken on Mount Evans in Colorado during our road trip last summer.
Here’s another topical one, from just outside Yellowstone:
http://www.cws.org/~joed/trip2010/rt2010-020.jpg
Yes, that’s a grizzly. I’m stunned they don’t kill more people.