Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) respond to anthropogenic disturbance by shifting activity patterns

Wildlife are often expected to avoid human activity, but responses to anthropogenic development can be complex. We used nine years of remote camera data to investigate the effects of human disturbance on a population of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus; Blainville 1816) at the Sunwapta Canyon Viewpoint in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada, where the Glacier Skywalk tourist attraction was constructed and operated. We monitored goat presence and activity patterns before, during, and after construction of the Skywalk. Our study assessed changes in goat photograph rates, as well as shifts in seasonal and diel site use across construction phases. Because mountain goats are often considered sensitive to human disturbance, we hypothesized that goats might abandon the site or change their behaviour to avoid humans. Our results show that although goats shifted their daily activity patterns to avoid times of peak human disturbance, goat activity increased during and after construction of the Glacier Skywalk. Mountain goat continued use of a disturbed site may have been influenced by local resource availability. These results provide insight into mountain goat responses to prolonged human activity and infrastructure development, informing future management and conservation strategies.