Saltlick

The dictionary defines a saltlick as: "A natural salt deposit (as a salt spring) that animals lick; or a block of often medicated saline preparation given to livestock to lick." Animals—with no schools, no churches, no armies, no Internet—wander the world and somehow know 1) they need salt to survive, and 2) how much salt they need. They find a source, a rock full of salt, and lick it. Not to excess, of course. They don’t need a lot. But the tiny amount they lick is essential. Without it, they die. And the animals remember where the rock is and return to it as needed. Or, as the dictionary points out, you can go to your farm supply store and buy a big block of salt to leave in the field for your livestock. No instructions needed. They’ll know what to do with it. Next Page >> Back to Saltlick Contents Magellan's Log V Magellan's Log front page