Interesting back story to the parking lot goats. There was a scientist from the Denver Zoo taking soil samples nearby. Turns out that the goats are tending to come into ever closer contact with us humans. Soil samples are being used to test the theory that salt used for winter road de-icing is being tracked into the parking lots and the unintended salt lick is what’s attracting the wildlife.
So what? The goats and bighorn sheep can contract pneumonia carried by humans, which is not conducive to species survival at 14,000 ft. The herds across Colorado are interlaced (goats do roam), so a contagion can be carried across all of the herds.
Recall an interview with long serving National Park Forest ranger who had been struck by lightening several times, When asked what it was like answered, “you never get used to it.”
