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      • 2024 – “Wrong Target” Wilson v. STATE OF IOWA: what I learned
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      • Apr. 2025 – Semester at Iowa State University sabotaged by Lyndsay Nissen and co-conspirators
      • Aug. 2024 – “Olive Branch extended” – original Article about the Lockwood/Reliable clique
    • In 2019, an “anti-camping” homeless harassment ordinance was used to steal $600 from me
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    • 2006-2009 – “False Charges & Warning” to leave the State for my safety
      • I was arrested in Ames for using the women’s restroom in 2006, and still seek justice (2022)
      • In 2009 an Ames Police Officer warned me to leave the state for my safety; I remained homeless for 8 years
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Wild Willpower PAC
  • About
    • Our Team
      • Lily Leyser, Committee Chair
      • Sondra Wilson, Founder of Wild Willpower PAC
    • WWP’s Prime Directive
    • WWP’s Code of Ethics
    • The Discretionary Fund
    • Endorsement Letters, Credentials, & Awards
    • The Council
  • National Plan
    • Right to Homestead Act:
    • Civilian Restoration Corps:
    • Swords to Plowshares Act (international policy)
  • State Platform
    • Justice Reform:
      • Justice Accessibility Act
      • The Watchdog Act
      • Responsible Gun Owner Act
    • Education and Healthcare:
      • Improved Healthcare Act of Iowa
      • Education Restoration Act
    • Farming & Urban Gardening:
      • Rural Iowa Revitalization Act
      • Crop Diversity and Enrichment Act
      • Right to Homestead Act
    • Iowa Commonwealth Act
    • Sensible Housing Act
  • Candidates
    • Sondra Wilson for Iowa Governor
      • Sondra Wilson’s “One-Page Article Campaign”
    • Are you a Candidate who wants to join forces with Wild Willpower PAC? Contact us!
  • Peaceable Assemblies
    • Iowans Against Gov’t Corruption
      • Student Reformationists
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      • Iowa Association of Transgender Women
      • Simplifying Iowa’s Justice System:
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        • Simplify The Iowa Rules of Courtroom Procedure
    • The Gardens Across Iowa!™ Campaign
      • The Gardens Across Iowa! App™
      • Gardens Across Iowa!™:Our Business Sponsors
    • The “Revitalize America!* Campaign
      • The Gardens Across America! App™
      • The Wild Living Skills App™
    • Join or Hire the League of Bards!! (“LOB”)
  • Casework
    • Current (2025) – “Operation: Magna Carta II”, federal case # 4:25-cv-00116-SHL-WPK
      • March 31, 2025 – Operation: Magna Carta II, pt.1 “The Commencement”
      • April 12 – “Distress Call” to Danny “Captain Falcon” Ramirez
      • 2024 – “Wrong Target” Wilson v. STATE OF IOWA: what I learned
    • Current (2025) – Story Cty. Case #LACV053674, Wilson v. Reliable Street/Lockwood Café Clique
      • Apr. 2025 – Semester at Iowa State University sabotaged by Lyndsay Nissen and co-conspirators
      • Aug. 2024 – “Olive Branch extended” – original Article about the Lockwood/Reliable clique
    • In 2019, an “anti-camping” homeless harassment ordinance was used to steal $600 from me
    • 2016-2017 – A Class Action for Standing Rock
    • May 2016 – “Defrauded, Robbed, & Exiled” by Kern County Sheriffs
    • 2006-2009 – “False Charges & Warning” to leave the State for my safety
      • I was arrested in Ames for using the women’s restroom in 2006, and still seek justice (2022)
      • In 2009 an Ames Police Officer warned me to leave the state for my safety; I remained homeless for 8 years
  • Get Merchandise!
    • Homesteading Starter Kits™
      • “Vibrant Heirlooms” 3 Sisters Homesteading Starter Kit
      • “Old Fashioned Succotash” 3 Sisters Homesteading Starter Kit
    • “Sondra Wilson for Iowa Governor” t-shirts
    • “More Valuable Than Gold” Ethnobotany textbook
  • Offer a Contribution
    • Help Richard Lonewolf – Printing Cost Fundraiser
    • Commissions Sought
      • The Public Intelligence Agency – building www.ReUniteTheStates.org
    • List of Wild Willpower PAC’s immediate needs

Mountain Goat Restoration – Get Involved

Mountain Goat
{Oreamnos americanus}:

 Above photo from Outdoor Life utilized respectfully in accordance with Fair Use.

About Mountain Goats:

    Despite its name, the mountain goat is actually a member of the antelope family.

Habitat:

     Known for their agility, mountain goats are most often seen scaling steep, rocky ledges. This extreme alpine environment provides them with adequate protection from predators.  Strong muscular forequarters and pliable hooves with soft rubbery pads help them maintain traction on craggy rock surfaces and survive in harsh conditions.

Distribution Map:

Above map from “Wild Sheep and Goats and their Relatives” by the IUCN/SSC Caprinae Specialist Group utilized respectfully in accordance with Fair Use.

Threats to Mountain Goats:

     Increased temperatures in the high peaks where mountain goats live may have an effect on their habitat and diet.

     Mountain goats reproduce at a slow rate and even a small loss can be devastating to a population. Kids and yearlings are typically most vulnerable and many do not survive the winter. Golden eagles often prey on kids. Mountain lions also pose a threat to kids and adults as they are one of the few predators that can maneuver at high elevations. Avalanches, rockfalls, landslides, falls and malnutrition claim many goats each year. Human threats include hunting, development and winter recreation in formerly inaccessible habitat. [2]

     Although mountain goats have never been domesticated and commercialized for their wool, pre-Columbian indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast did incorporate their wool into their weaving by collecting spring moulted wool left by wild goats. [3]

     Understanding population dynamics and historical declines for Mountain Goats is challenging due to sparse data.  Speculations regarding the cause of population declines have included habitat change, predation, disease, parasites, recreation impacts, and excessive harvest. Managing for recovery requires an understanding of the relative importance of the factors causing population declines. Using records of Mountain Goat harvest in selected areas of Washington State (USA), we modeled population trajectories for 7 areas with a stage-structured matrix model and compared these trajectories to recent population estimates. Our results supported the hypothesis that observed declines can be attributed primarily to the effects of harvest. We also assessed the level of harvest likely to be sustainable for Mountain Goat populations of varying sizes. Our results were sensitive to vital rates used in the model and were also influenced by population size and the proportion of harvest that is male. Generally, populations of ,50 individuals should not be harvested, but larger populations (such as .100) or those where the proportion of males in the harvest is high (90 to 100%) may sustain #4% harvest. However, due to expected variation of vital rates among populations and years, declines may still occur with harvest at these levels and continued population monitoring is essential for hunted populations. [4]

Diet

  • grasses, sedges, herbs, shrubs, ferns mosses and lichen.

Population

  • ~100,000 Mountain Goats in North America.

Range

  • The Rocky Mountains and coastal ranges of northwestern North America, including southwestern Alaska. 

Behavior

     Mountain goats are active both during the day and night, but take time to rest under overhanging cliffs. They mostly live in herds and move around according to season. In the summer, smaller groups will travel to salt licks. Females, called nannies, spend most of the year in herds with their kids, while males either live alone or with 2 – 3 other males. Nannies can be protective of their territory and food, and so will fight other nannies in their herds. During mating season, males will fight each other using their horns for the right to mate with females.

Reproduction

Mating Season: November and December.
Gestation: 150-180 days.
Litter size: Typically one kid; twins rarely.
At birth, the kid weighs around 6 lbs and are able to move along the rocks with its mother within a day or so after.

Height: Males up to 3.5 feet; females are smaller.
Length: Males up to 5.5 feet; females are smaller.
Weight: 100-300 pounds; females are lighter.
Lifespan: 12-15 years [1]

References:

[1]: Shackleton, D. M. and the IUCN/SSC Caprinae Specialist Group. 1997. “Wild Sheep and Goats and their Relatives.” Status Survey and Action Plan for Caprinae. IUCN: Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK:  www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Oreamnos_americanus.html

[2]: Defenders of Wildlife, “Threats to Mountain Goats”:  http://www.defenders.org/mountain-goat/threats

[3]: Yukon Department of Environment, “Mountain Goat”:  www.env.gov.yk.ca/animals-habitat/mammals/goat.php#people

[4]:  Northwestern Naturalist, “EFFECTS OF MOUNTAIN GOAT HARVEST ON HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY POPULATIONS” by CLIFFORD G RICE (Wildlife Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) and DON GAY (Mt. Baker Ranger District, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest):  www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5189461.pdf

Notice Regarding all Campaign Contributions

Wild Willpower PAC is a nonpartisan “nonconnected PAC”, registered with the IRS as a 527 tax exempt political organization. Contributions will be used to directly and/or indirectly influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of individual(s) to federal, state, and local public offices, and to offices in political organizations. Wild Willpower only promotes candidates who align themselves with our National Plan. Due to FEC restrictions we may not accept contributions from foreign nationals.

Paid for by Wild Willpower PAC. 4733 Toronto St. Unit 112. Ames, IA 50014. Treasurer: Sondra Wilson. @ 2011 Sondra Wilson