The goat problem vexed Leonard Sielecki for over a decade.

Every spring, goats suffering from mineral deficiency following the long winter trek down mountains in search of salt. They find it on B.C. highways, which either have salt left over from icy conditions or may draw the animals in with the road91裸聊视频檚 brine residue.

Sielecki, who manages the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure91裸聊视频檚 wildlife program, is an expert on vehicle collision mitigation. But luring goats away from the roads proved more difficult than he expected, at least until he realized he should just give the animals what they wanted.

91裸聊视频淚t sounds very simple now but for some reason it took a lot of thinking to come up with that,91裸聊视频� he said.

Sielecki91裸聊视频檚 not kidding. He91裸聊视频檇 previously tried a number of deterrents, such as mixing cayenne pepper into salt (which worked on goats and, unexpectedly, also on allergic drivers) or magnesium chloride (which not only made the goats sick but also damaged vehicles and cars).

He even tried placing satchels of dog fur from wolf-like species such as huskies and malamutes along the highway. That also backfired. 91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e ever going to do an experiment like that, make sure you freeze all the boxes because you91裸聊视频檒l get fleas,91裸聊视频� he said.

Finally, after at least one goat was killed last summer on Highway 31 between the small West Kootenay towns of Lardeau and Argenta, Sielecki decided to try another tact.

Sielecki contacted Nelson-based wildlife research biologist Kim Poole, who partnered with the Friends of Lardeau River to haul approximately 125 kilograms of livestock salt up the hill from the highway late last summer. They set up small piles and hoped it would distract the goats from the nearby highway.

91裸聊视频淚 put some cameras up and if you can believe it, within 55 minutes of us leaving the goats were on the lick site,91裸聊视频� said Poole. 91裸聊视频淪o in the short term it looked really promising.91裸聊视频�

Mountain goats have long been a fixture on the Lardeau Bluffs.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development estimates the herd91裸聊视频檚 population is 50, but Poole said he91裸聊视频檚 had locals tell him it is more likely 25 to 30. The goats are also protected from hunting after a ban was placed on the bluffs in 2004.

Protecting the goats, Poole said, is a local prerogative.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not like you have several hundred goats running around in that area and dropping one or two to a vehicle isn91裸聊视频檛 such a bad thing,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just not a lot of goats. You don91裸聊视频檛 want to lose too many of them.91裸聊视频�

Last year the salt licks were placed too late in the season to judge how successful they were. This year, Poole and nine volunteers returned on April 18 with 175 kilos of salt that were placed in two different locations about 150 metres from the highway. The transportation ministry has purchased approximately 400 kilos of salt, which Poole said he91裸聊视频檒l use to replenish the licks every four-to-six weeks.

The salt is placed in spread-out piles to simulate natural licks. Sielecki said he opted against using blocks to avoid the possibility of animals sharing diseases.

It91裸聊视频檚 still too early to know if the project is a success, but Lardeau isn91裸聊视频檛 the only community trying out the licks. Three sites have also been added in the East Kootenay and Sielecki has plans for two more.

Although the salt can keep drivers safe from collisions, Sielecki said protecting animals is his priority. He recalled meeting a woman in Kaslo and mentioning the Lardeau goats.

91裸聊视频淪he knew the herd. That was really neat because I91裸聊视频檓 trying to help a herd she knows locally. It91裸聊视频檚 that attachment people have, that love people have for the wildlife of our province.91裸聊视频�

tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter