Generally during the summer, animals graze on grasses, herbs, and low-growing shrubs in alpine ranges. As winter advances, goats descend to forested areas and onto south-facing cliffs, where they browse on hemlock, ferns, bunch grasses and twigs. However, some remain on windswept ridges where they feed on mosses and lichens. Nannies will seek solitude prior to giving birth, but soon join other nannies with newborn kids to form nursery flocks. Usually a single kid is born in late May or early June.
Kids usually remain with their mothers until the next breeding season.
Identifying Sex Billies are similar in appearance to nannies. Billies have a large, stocky shape and weigh an average of 200 pounds, and have a gradual curving horns. The diameter of the horn base is large which makes for a narrow space between the horns. A distinct feature of billies is the style of stretching to urinate, as opposed to females whom squat. Nannies are smaller in size and weigh approximately 160 pounds.