Narcotic Lichen

[Paregoric Kid]

I read about a type of lichen that grows on the side of rocks in the rockies that bighorn sheep will risk their lives to get to it and they lick the lichen till their gums wear down raw. I can't find any info about what kind of lichen it is and what it does exactly. does anyone have any info on this?

[bronyraur]

I read an article on cracked.com about that, but that's all I know about the subject.

[Larry]

I read an article on cracked.com about that, but that's all I know about the subject.


http://www.cracked.com/article_17032_7-species-that-get-high-more-than-we-do.html

[Gimpy]

I did some quick Google research.
Most of the current articles including the cracked.com article appear to be quoting "Wild Health" by Cindy Engel and she cites "Intoxication: life in pursuit of artificial paradise" by R.K. Siegel.
In "Medicinal Lichens" by Robert Rogers, he suggests that the lichen may be Lecanora.
I also found an interesting article on Lycaeum.org about "earth flower" lichen.
http://mv.lycaeum.org/mu/earth_flower_lichen.html