[at-l] goats as "pack animals"?

[Art MacAilein]

Well, I think they look cute carrying their packs. Like smart, 
personable, little mules. I couldn't bring myself to eat one but goat 
cheese is scrumptious.

They use them as pack animals out west where there aren't trails. They 
don't carry a great deal of gear so the guides take a whole bunch of 
them at a time. The goats walk in a line following each other, they eat 
grass and such so they don't have to carry food, and their scent 
allegedly masks that of the humans with them. They don't smell 
threatening to wild animals so the tourists are more likely to see critters.

That's what the magazine said, anyway.

http://www.goatpacking.com/index.html - Wind River Pack Goats in Wyoming

David Addleton wrote:
> I finally read the tread about the goat on the AT.
>
> Since I've lived in several parts of the world where goats are 
> important domesticated animals for many purposes, and since I've never 
> heard of a goat being used as a "pack animal" anywhere, in any part of 
> the world, I decided to run a WestLaw search looking for the meaning 
> of "pack animal" in US law. [I have seen them, for purposes of humor 
> at fairs, etc., placed in front of a cart; but no one in their right 
> mind would use their goat source of food, milk, cheese, and a fine 
> skin for water or wine as pack animal!]