Mountain Goats Scaling Straight Up Cliffs

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A mountain goat hoof is really kind of a cloven situation, like a pair of tongs that can spread apart to get more traction. The toe pads are textured for kind of rubbery grip. And then the dew claws behind those two front toes also help grip surfaces. So the whole square shabang is kind of like an arcade claw machine, but more reliable in life threatening situations. They do all this nude, wearing pa as a cologne, or literally raising kids up a cliff. Do they have any issues going too high an elevation where the air is too thin? Because i've tried to jog in the mountains and it did not go well. How are they

Mountain goats are not goats. And there’s only one living species, Oreamnos americanus. WHAT?? Montana-based wildlife biologist and Oreamnologist Julie Cunningham counts mountain goats from helicopters, traps and tests them for science, and spends even her off days searching for them on mountaintops. We cover their population, sensual mating habits, the feel of their wool, pungent goatwhiff, tips for hikers and how these animals defy gravity scaling near-vertical cliffs. Oh also, why your favorite trail might be delicious.

Julie Cunningham’s bio

A donation was made to the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance: GoatAlliance.org

You may also enjoy: Cervidology (DEER), Bovine Neuropathology (HEADBUTTING), Neuropathology (CONCUSSIONS), Cryoseismology (ICEQUAKES), Bryology (MOSS), Phenology (SEASONS)

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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media

Transcripts by Emily White of The Wordary