Goats are able to see in the dark. At night, when it’s dark, goats move around, graze and also have the very important ability to spot predators to escape danger.
While a goat’s vision might not be as good at night as it is during the day, it has evolved to become good enough to play an important role in their survival.
How Goats Are Able to See in the Dark
Goats’ eyes are very different from humans and even many other animals. Goats’ eyes are horizontal and shaped like a rectangle, which allows them to see a very wide range of their environment – almost as much as 360 degrees in fact.
When it comes to how goats can see in the dark, though, this is due to their unique ability to control the amount of light that enters their eyes, which is useful both during the day and at night.
At night, goats let additional light into their eyes so they can see more clearly. During the day, goats let less light in to limit the effect the sun can have on their vision when the sun is at the brightest and during those extra bright, sunny days.
Are Baby Goats Scared of the Dark?
Some farmers have noticed that baby goats don’t handle the dark as well as more mature goats. Some think that baby goats are scared of the dark despite being able to see in the dark. It sounds like quite the paradox.
In fact, baby goats are not scared of the dark. The issue is that when baby goats are housed indoors and artificial lighting is used, the sudden change from bright light to darkness can be jarring and scare them.
If bright, artificial lighting isn’t used, or if there is a gradual decrease in light – similar to how the light naturally changes as the sun goes down and darkness emerges – there is no issue.