Native to North America, mountain goats spend much of the year scaling peaks from south-central Alaska down to the northern Rockies. They tend to live at high altitudes, often above 13,000 feet, where their sure-footed climbing ability allows them to clamber up extraordinarily steep, rocky slopes. In the winter, they"ll migrate down to slightly lower elevations to seek shelter in subalpine forests with south-facing rocky ledges, where the sun and relentless winds keep ice to a minimum. Here, they forage for lichen, mosses, grasses, and other greens. Their woolly, two-layered coats keep them toasty as temperatures dip, which is probably why even in the chill of western Montana this young mountain goat—or kid—appears to be having a ball. Enjoying winter is all about how you dress.
Dressed for winter fun
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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World Sea Turtle Day
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Midwinter freeze
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A dreamy start to the Year of the Pig
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Indigenous Peoples Day
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A light on National Hispanic Heritage Month
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Darwin s Arch
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Big-wave hunters watch Nazaré
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Common raven
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Bluespotted ribbontail ray
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Celebrating Chile’s Independence Day
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In search of roadside attractions on ‘America’s Highway’
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It s Australia Day
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Breckenridge, Colorado
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Leap day
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Signs of life in the Empty Quarter
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Unearthing a queen s lost tale
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Isla del Pescado on the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
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Aerial view of the Colorado River Delta in Mexico
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The cycle begins anew
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Summer huts in winter
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Cetacean Saturday
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Misool Island, Indonesia
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The Girl Scouts celebrate 110 years
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Turning darkness into light
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There’s treasure in them thar hills
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Buddha in the roots of a tree, Ayutthaya, Thailand
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The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic
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International Surfing Day
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Morocco in bloom
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Indigo bunting