Director's Choice
Joel Sartore
National Geographic Magazine
"GREAT MIGRATIONS"
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A female mountain goat stretches to reach a salt and mineral "lick" on the side of a mountain in Glacier National Park. Mountain goats migrate vertically to the middle fork of the Flathead River to get the minerals they need. How did this one get down? Very carefully. Mountain goats make their living by taking each step very seriously. Using splayed, rubbery hooves that grip rock surfaces, she started by placing all four feet on the tiny ledge where her back feet are shown in the photo. She then pushed out and wedged into the crevice using her front hooves to bridge the gap, licking any salt on the rocks around her. To get out, she reversed the procedure, again placing all four feet on the same little ledge, turning around slowly until she could exit, uphill and to the left.
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