iN PHOTOS: Hardy and majestic mountain goats forage in Kamloops, Okanagan

The sure-footed mountain goat is a hardy animal known for its ability to navigate steep terrain and even the most narrow of rocky ledges.

With fluffy white coats, muscular shoulders and comical beards, it is no wonder mountain goats are a popular subject for photographers in Kamloops and the Okanagan.

BC is home to half of the world’s population of the goats and they can be found living in most mountain ranges excluding coastal islands, according to a provincial government web page.

The goats are able to live in steep, rocky terrain because of their massive forequarters, muscular shoulders and unique hooves that have a rough texture for traction and toes that can spread wide for balance.

It can be hard to differentiate between the males and females, but the females are smaller in size and their horns are more curved and slender.

The goats mate in November and December and will start having kids at the end of May.

The mountain goat population is considered stable but is threatened by commercial backcountry recreation, industrial development and habitat loss.

If you have photos of mountain goats you want to share, send them to news@infonews.ca.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.