Final answer:
Imprinting occurs during a limited and special phase of an animal's life called the critical period. It's essential for survival as it helps the young animal learn behaviors, like following its mother, that are crucial for protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Imprinting can only occur during a very limited time of an animal's life, known as the critical period. This is a special phase in an animal's life when certain behaviors can be learned rapidly and leads to a lasting change in behavior. For instance, hatchling ducks will form a bond and follow the first moving object they encounter, typically their mother. This behavior increases their ability to survive by keeping them close to their mother for protection.
However, should these ducks imprint on a human first, they will follow the human in the same manner.