"The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats" (Psa. 104:18).
The Latin word chamois (sha-mee) means "rock goat" which describes the appearance of these two-foot high, 100-pound animals. Both males and females have curved black horns about a foot high and bodies covered with reddish-brown fur, with whitish fur on the head and hindquarters. The kind Creator has given them strong legs and hooves and also large lungs which are necessary to sustain the enormous energy needed for life in the mountains. Their heads are short with sharp eyes and alert, upright ears; they have just a stub of a tail.
Grassy meadows on high mountain peaks make ideal summertime homes, providing nutritious grass, but in winter they go to lower levels to escape the cold, fierce winds of the heights. They have an outstanding ability to climb and romp about the mountainsides. To them it is no problem to cross a 20-foot ravine-they just jump over it! At times, rather than working their way down a long, smooth area, a chamois may simply slide down and make a landing on the narrow ledge that has been its target.
They are very alert for enemies, such as eagles, lynxes and wolves, or even people trying to get near them. When any of these are still a long way off, sharp whistles and stamping hooves of guards cause the whole herd to disappear immediately among the rocks.
Each herd will strongly resist another herd's trying to take over, or even wanting to share, their territory. To keep others away, the bucks rub a waxy substance from their heads on bushes, trees, rocks, etc., the odor of which warns others not to intrude. Where do you suppose they learned to do this? We know they didn't need to learn, for this is quite common with many wild animals and a provision the Creator has given for their protection. How good He is to all His creation!
Usually mothers have just one little kid each year, but sometimes there are twins. They can walk almost immediately and have no fear of high, rocky places. Like other young ones (including boys and girls), they are very playful, running, jumping and sliding down snow-covered slopes, but never getting very far from their mother who keeps a watchful eye on them.
We should not be surprised to see how well big and little chamois survive in the surroundings that would be very dangerous for us. The Lord God designed them for that exciting life and they are included in the Bible verse at the beginning. When David wrote that wonderful Psalm he exclaimed, "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being" (vs. 33). We should be happy doing this.