A
mineral lick (also known as a
salt lick) is a place where
animals can go to
lick essential
mineral nutrients from a deposit of
salts and other
minerals. Mineral licks can be naturally occurring (
natural licks) or artificial (such as blocks of
salt that farmers place in
pastures for
livestock to lick). Natural licks are common, and they provide the
biometals (
sodium,
calcium,
iron,
phosphorus,
zinc, and
trace elements) required in the springtime for
bone,
muscle and other growth in
deer and other wildlife, such as
moose,
elephants,
tapirs,
cattle,
woodchucks,
domestic sheep,
fox squirrels,
mountain goats and
porcupines. Such licks are especially important in
ecosystems with poor general availability of nutrients. Harsh weather exposes salty
mineral deposits that draw animals from miles away for a taste of needed nutrients. It is thought that certain fauna can detect
calcium in salt licks.