Mountain Goat Suspected Of Killing Hiker in Washington

A mountain goat is the primary suspect in the death of a hiker. Authorities say that the goat injured the 63-year-old hiker, Robert H. Boardman, on Saturday as he hiked in Olympic National Park with his wife and friend.

According to Peninsula Daily News, Boardman and the other hikers had stopped for lunch at an overlook when the goat appeared. The goat approached the hikers, acting aggressively, forcing Boardman to wave him away.

As Boardman tried to leave, the goat attacked him, and gored him in the leg. The animal then stood over the injured man as he bled.

According to MSNBC, an off-duty park ranger tried to get the aggressive mountain goat away from the injured man. He first shook a blanket at the animal, and then pelted it with rocks. Rangers later tracked the animal down, and killed it.

Wow, it seems strange that a mountain goat would attack somebody like that in cold-blood. Usually, when one hears of an animal attacking somebody, a goat is not the first creature that pops into one’s mind. It makes one wonder what caused the goat to behave so cruelly. Perhaps, the unsuspecting hikers accidentally wandered into where the goat’s young might be, and the goat was protecting its family. Whatever the reason, it is such a shame to hear of a man that died doing something as seemingly innocent as hiking. Hopefully, his family will be able to grieve in peace, and keep Boardman’s memory alive.