Living On the Edge: The Ecology of Mountain Goats and Avalanches in Alaska

Mountain goats use steep terrain to avoid predators, but this exposes them to snow avalanches. Kevin White presents long-term research on the natural history and population ecology of mountain goats in coastal Alaska, focusing on how avalanches alter landscapes and wildlife populations. These extreme events can cause declines that take more than a generation to reverse, linking mountain-wildlife persistence to climate-related hazards. The interdisciplinary studies involve snow scientists and collaborators in Alaska, Canada and Switzerland.