PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) — Tests conducted on a 350-pound mountain goat that fatally gored a man in Washington’s Olympic National Park and was later killed by rangers show no signs of disease or physical abnormality.
Park spokeswoman Barb Maynes said Thursday that tissue analysis did show the adult male goat was in breeding condition, or “rut.” Tests for rabies, encephalitis and plague were negative.
The animal gored 63-year-old Robert Boardman of Port Angeles on Oct. 16, then stood over him and stared at people trying to help. Park officials say it had shown aggressive behavior in the past. Boardman was hiking with his wife and a friend.
Maynes says the rut “may have been a contributing factor,” but adds that hikers have been around goats during breeding season before and it hasn’t been a problem.
She says rangers monitoring park goats in the days after the attack saw no other signs of aggressive behavior.
