Three visitors to Glacier National Park risked getting a pair of horns in the face when they approached within a few feet of one of the park's mountain goats for a photo, and ignored signs that the animal was unhappy with their presence.
In a video shared by Instagram account TouronsOfYellowstone, which highlights incidents of bad behavior at US National Parks, three visitors can be seen resting their phones and cameras on a wall to get a better picture of the goat, putting their faces directly in line with its head.
In the clip, which you can watch below, the goat approaches, lowers its head and points its horns in their direction, which is a display of aggression, but is eventually startled away.
Although mountain goats are generally shy and reclusive, like all wild animals they can be aggressive and unpredictable if they feel threatened. Males can weigh up to 300lb, and their sharp horns (which they use in fights) can be up to 10in long.
As with all wildlife, the best way to stay safe is to keep your distance. It's also important not to feed mountain goats, as this can cause them to lose their natural wariness and seek out human food, which increases the odds of injury to the goat or a person.
If a mountain goat charges you, you can attempt to outrun it; the animals don't typically give chase for very long. Alternatively, you can try to grab it by the horns and keep it at arm's length. For more advice, see our guide are mountain goats dangerous?
