Outdoor notes

GETTING YOUR GOAT (WATCH)

BEAVER — You could see as many as 100 mountain goats, and you may not even need binoculars to see them, when the Division of Wildlife Resources hosts its annual Goat Watch on the Tushar Mountains east of Beaver on Saturday, Aug. 7. The event is free to the public.

At some of the past viewing events on the Tushar Mountains, the goats have gotten as close as 35 feet to those viewing them.

The trip will begin at 8 a.m. at the convenience store at the bottom of Exit 109 off I-15, on the south side of Beaver. From there, participants will caravan to the top of the Tushar Mountains. At the top of the Tushars, the elevation is close to 11,500 feet above sea level and offers an amazing view.

"You can see all of southern Utah," said Lynn Chamberlain, regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR. "And we can almost always find the goats."

Binoculars or spotting scopes will be available for those who need them. But those who have their own viewing equipment should bring it. Participants are also encouraged to bring water, a hat, a jacket and a sack lunch and to travel in a vehicle that has high ground clearance. "The road can be rocky towards the top," Chamberlain said.

In addition to seeing the mountain goats, participants can explore the alpine-tundra ecosystem in which the goats live. Found only above the timberline at high elevations, it's an ecosystem that's uncommon in southern Utah. Unique animals live in this alpine-tundra terrain, including yellow-bellied marmots and pika. "These high-elevation areas get extremely cold in the winter," he said. "To survive, the animals that live in them have adapted some pretty interesting behaviors."

For more information about the goat-watching event, call the DWR's Southern Region office at 435-865-6100.

ADOPT A DESERT TORTOISE

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are putting nearly a dozen desert tortoises up for adoption.

Listed as threatened on the federal Endangered Species list, most of the tortoises were found after people removed them from their native homes. Once a wild tortoise is taken from the wild, it can't be released, as releasing it could introduce diseases into Utah's wild tortoise population.

Even though desert tortoises require some room, experts say caring for one is easier than caring for other pets.

"They won't bark or chase your neighbor's cat," said Jason Jones, a DWR native aquatic species biologist. "And five months out of the year, they'll be in hibernation in your house."

To adopt a desert tortoise, you need a fenced outdoor area that's at least 15 feet by 10 feet.