Eating Dirt

Many hoofed animals use natural mineral licks in the spring and early summer. Most deer species prefer wet licks like the one near Settlers road. While bighorn sheep and mountain goats tend to use dry licks like the one at Mount Wardle in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia.

David Shackleton in his book Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia said "Mineral licks are important for ungulates. In western North America, licks are high in magnesium and calcium and to a lesser degree in sodium salts. Ungulates are thought to use licks to maintain mineral balance. This is especially important during spring because growing plants are rich in potassium, a mineral readily absorbed by ruminants. Their bodies respond to this by trying to eliminate excess potassium, but in the process also excrete magnesium which causes their normally low reserves of this element to drop to critical levels. Acute magnesium deficiency associate with eating lush vegetation is called grass tetany in domestic livestock, and may occur in wild species as well. By using natural licks, wild ruminants may be able to increase their magnesium intake and thus restore their reserves of this vital element. Calcium consumed at the same time is also valuable for milk production in lactating female, bone development in young growing animals and antler growth in deer"

So now you know why ungulates eat dirt!

Posted on December 17, 2019 07:34 PM by