The Wyoming Biodiversity Minute
Episode 17: Pika
Image: By Alan D. Wilson (naturespicsonline.com ([1])) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The American Pika is an alpine member of the rabbit family. It has a small round body with peppery fur, rounded ears and a stubby tail. They live at elevations between 6,000 and 13,000 feet and prefer environments with large rocks. They use these rocks to protect their haystacks of food. Pikas spend most of the summer collecting forage to create these large stores of food. If they eat through their pile of food over the winter they will tunnel under the snow to feed on lichen or cushion plants. The Pika is a vocal animal their distinctive call announces their territory and warns other Pika of predators. So the next time you head up to the mountains listen for the Pika’s call. With your WyoBio Minute I am Brian Barber.
The American Pika is an alpine member of the rabbit family. It has a small round body with peppery fur, rounded ears and a stubby tail. They live at elevations between 6,000 and 13,000 feet and prefer environments with large rocks.
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