American Pika

Description:

The American pika is variable in fur coloration. This one is more honey coloured than some and blended so well with the tawny rocks in the rockslide where I found him. Short legs, rounded ears, baby bunny size.

Habitat:

Rockslide on the far side of Lightning Lake trail, sloping down from the mountains to the lake. Interesting that Wiki says that they can manage without water because they eat green plants, but will drink water if it is available to them. I think this little guy would be taking some drinks from the clear mountain lake that he lives beside! Photo 2 shows him taking some greenery into his shelter in the rocks. I never saw him eat any of it so he is probably "haying" for the winter.

Notes:

Pikas do not hibernate but must eat all winter long from their stores they have set aside in the summer months before the snow comes to the mountains.