Mountain Goats Climb Higher Before Avalanches
Mountain goats move to higher elevations before avalanches or earthquakes threaten their habitat. Sherpa guides in Nepal observed goats climbing unusually high before a major avalanche in 2014. Their specialized hooves sense ground instability or subtle vibrations that humans cannot detect. This natural risk-avoidance behavior evolved in these animals over centuries. Himalayan mountain guides now carefully monitor goat behavior as part of their safety protocols for climbing expeditions.