I think the answer to that is an emphatic “No!” We have been photographing pikas for years and years. We used to say they were little agents for Kodak film, but now I guess we have to say they are agents for hard drive manufacturers. Whatever they are I think they are about the cutest little animal around.
You probably know pikas are rabbits. Rabbits that are super well adapted for cold climates with their short little ears and almost nonexistent tail. They only live at higher elevations in rocky areas. They don’t hibernate but instead collect plants all summer to eat during the long winter. But in the spring when the new vegetation starts growing they spend more time eating new plants than collecting for winter.
I found 3 very cooperative pikas yesterday. Although I have been watching them for years I learned something new. I have seen them eat a large variety of grasses and other flowering plants. They especially seem to love raspberries, not the fruit, the leaves. But yesterday one of them was eating spruce needles. I didn’t seem it collect the needles and I have never seen one climb a tree. In fact many places they live are above tree line. But one were definitely eating spruce needles. I guess the mystery is where did they get them? Maybe some were knocked off of trees during the recent snow and rain storms? I know there are a couple of spruce trees close to the talus slope where they live.
The pika eating the spruce needles spent more time licking his chops than the other two. I wonder if he was trying to get the sticky spruce resin off of his lips?
It is hard to tell from these photos but one of these pikas was much smaller than the other two and had a higher pitched call. I would think it is too early for a teenage pika to be running around but I don’t know that for a fact.
One of the pikas spent a lot of time eating moss. I have seen them eat moss before but not often.
One of them was eating something with roundish leaves which I couldn’t identify until I saw the flower buds. It was a piece of honeysuckle bush.
No, there isn’t! Great photos.
Thank you Linda!
Oh you got some great Pika! Love the spruce shot.
Thanks Deby! When we went back yesterday I realized there weren’t any spruce trees around. It had to be Douglas fir.
What area are the Pikas more dense? I have never been lucky to get pictures of them. Would love to do that this year. Your photos are wonderful.
Hi Shelley, The pika populations seem to vary somewhat from year to year. The best places to look for them in the Yellowstone area are talus slopes, especially those with raspberry bushes around the edges of the talus. They don’t have to have talus though. A rocky area like on the way up Beartooth Pass will do. There are a number of places to find them there. When you are looking for them sit quietly for at least 15 to 30 minutes. While you are looking for movement also listen. They have a high pitched kind of a sick sheep call. Keep in mind you usually have to spend time looking and waiting. Look along the talus on the north side of the road on the road from Madison Junction to West Yellowstone. The area for a couple of miles east of the bridge is good. As I said Beartooth Pass is good. We like the very top, but they live in various rocky places on the way up. Also they are in the Hoodoos south of Mammoth. Good luck!
We have been visiting the pika the last couple of days and got some nice photos of them too, nothing is cuter than a pika, agreed ! One ran under a log and ran into my shoe, then back to the talus…not camera shy at all. Spotted a fox with an unfortunate ground squirrel coming thru there yesterday as well. Love your pics, the little pink tongue…cute.
We’ve seen a weasel there but not a fox. That would be neat! They seem to be nervier this year than in the past but we haven’t gotten any on our shoes yet. We will have to keep going back.
I felt bad when the little guy found my shoe, I was on the other side of a log, and it went under the log really quickly, into the toe of my shoe and back to a hole very quickly. Didn’t seem to phase it tho…still was willing to pose. Would love to see a weasel or marten there…