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A Pair of Goats
Visit a Popular
Goat Lick
Photo courtesy of webshots.com
Located along U.S. Highway 2, near the
southern tip of Glacier National Park, is an
exposed riverbank where mountain goats and
other animals come to lick the mineral-laden
cliffs. From the parking area, a short paved
path leads to an observation stand
overlooking the waters of the Middle Fork of
the Flathead River. Here, the river's current
has cut deeply into the easily eroded soil,
creating steep drop-offs and exposing a mass
of gray clay containing minerals craved by
mountain goats and other animals. Four
natural mineral licks are known in the park,
but no other lick receives as much use as this
one.
Spring awakens cravings . . .
The
Goat Lick is a rocky exposure of comprised of
gypsum, kieserite, and sulfates. The craving
for sodium and the shift to green vegetations
each spring, prompt the goats to visit the Goat
Lick. Calcium, potassium, and magnesium
found in the lick may help replace the
elements goats lose from their bones during
the winter. Additional explanations for visits to
the lick include: an acquired taste for salts; a
need for the minerals as a digestive acid; and
the high goat concentrations, which may allow
for more intensive social interactions.
Like a fine restaurant . . .
Glacier
National Park goats travel as far as 4 miles to
get to the Goat Lick, while others from more
widely dispersed areas in the Flathead
National Forest, travel several times that
distance. April through August is the most
concentrated use period, although use occurs
year-round. During late June and July, dozens
at a time gather here. A population of
approximately 95-120 mountain goats from
Glacier National Park, and
20-45 from the adjacent national forest, use
the lick. Elk and deer are also attracted to
these natural minerals. Young mountain
goats learn the route from the older animals.
Most of their travel occurs on established
trails.
One well-worn goat trail traverses the crest of
Running Rabbit Mountain and down the slope
to the Goat Lick.
Source . . .
Glacier National Park.
Goat Lick Overlook (brochure).
National Park Service of the U.S. Department
of Interior.
Terms: minerals, elements, social interactions
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