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The Real-Life Pikachu: I Photograph The American Pika In Their Extreme Mountainous Homes (19 Pics)
Hi there! I'm Deirdre Denali Rosenberg. And I am happy you're here. Since I was a real little kid, I could be found wandering the woods and high peaks of the Rocky Mountains. I found such comfort and freedom in these wild spaces, befriending trees and wildlife alike. From the time I can remember, my favorite little creature has been the American pika, a wondrous friend that dwells in alpine habitats. Also, yes - Pikachu from Pokémon is based on these adorable animals!
Their habitats are incredibly extreme, both terrain-wise and conditions-wise. And wow, are pikas evolved to thrive in these frigid extremes. So I would like to share a little American pika love today. They are cute, they are wonderful and they are hardcore mountaineers!
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An American Pika Making Sure The Coast Is Clear From The Entrace Of Her Winter Den
Unlike many other animals living in freezing conditions, American pika do not hibernate. Instead, they work all summer to gather up tundra grasses that they turn into hay piles: big mounds of grass that dry in the sunshine. Summertime is when pikas are the most active, bounding across talus fields with mouths stuffed full! They feast on these hay piles all autumn/winter/spring and live comfortably under the talus for about 7 months out of the year. And once in a while, with patience, you can observe them come out of their cozy winter dens, run across the snow, and munch up the grass they worked so hard to prepare.
Golden Hour At 12,500 Ft - Something All Creatures Enjoy!
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
As our climate is changing, pika are having a hard time adapting. They cease to live when temperatures exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit for long. And that's a big issue! Pika have become an indicator species for climate change and their numbers have decreased significantly over the decades. But through my research, I am finding bits of hope that tell me all is not lost with this amazing animal. I have found a few special colonies in lower elevations that have moved down the slope. This allows them to seek cool, rocky, and shady habitats along mountain creeks. It's fascinating and shows that while slow to adapt to a quickly changing planet, they are adapting.
Gathering Up Those Grasses While She Can
Summertime Munchin'
A Pika Exhales On An Especially Frigid Morning At 13,000 Ft
Biiiiiig Yawn!
They apparently have 26 total teeth - wonder where the other ones are hidden?
A Very Young Pika Observing Me As I Observe Her
"If I Fits, I Sits"
A Little Friend Checking Out Her Talusfield
American Pika Are Largely Solitary Animals, But They Can Be Seen Relaxing Near One Another Sometimes
A Baby Pika Making Sure It's Safe To Come Outside Of His Den
A Cute Little Mouthful
Someone's Been Digging In The Snow!
Waking Up To A Wet Spring Morning
A Baby Pika Catching The First Rays Of Sunshine On A Summer Morning
A Baby Pika Taking A Much Needed Snooze Under The Talus - It's Hard Work Being So New!
Itchy!!!
Inside Of A Pika Den, This Friend Has A Quick Snack!
Springtime Is Fresh Grass Time!
Their tenacity combined with their almost ludicrous cuteness makes these little guys so utterly charming. A hundred pounds of personality in a two-pound package!
I couldn’t agree with you more! The personalities these guys have are so wonderful! They truly are unique, something I really appreciate☺️
Load More Replies...Evolution has led to the creation of these exceedingly cute animals. Thanks for displaying the epitome of cuteness here, and making our day!
It is my pleasure! They’re such fantastic little beings.
Load More Replies...I didn't wrote posts on the pictures because they would have been redundant and repetitive. These are the cutest little animals ever. Too much cuteness when they've got some food in their mouths. Thank you for these wonderful pics of such cuties.
Oh thank you so much! I appreciate it. Sharing photos and info on pikas really is rewarding. They are such incredible animals and can bring so much joy!
Load More Replies...Hi. Originally from Colorado myself. I do miss listening to those little chirps they make. :)
I hope this made you smile then- nothing quite like pikas greeting you after a long hike!
Load More Replies...Thank you for spending all those hours in the chilly elements to bring us these adorable photos!
It is an honor, friend. These critters bring so much joy!
Load More Replies...Thank you! I love seeing them do "normal" things. It's just cuter haha
Load More Replies...This post was informative and also prompted me to look even further into the evolutions of these pikas and other animals. I honestly hadn't heard of these critters before. I'm thrilled google suggested this article to me.
Their tenacity combined with their almost ludicrous cuteness makes these little guys so utterly charming. A hundred pounds of personality in a two-pound package!
I couldn’t agree with you more! The personalities these guys have are so wonderful! They truly are unique, something I really appreciate☺️
Load More Replies...Evolution has led to the creation of these exceedingly cute animals. Thanks for displaying the epitome of cuteness here, and making our day!
It is my pleasure! They’re such fantastic little beings.
Load More Replies...I didn't wrote posts on the pictures because they would have been redundant and repetitive. These are the cutest little animals ever. Too much cuteness when they've got some food in their mouths. Thank you for these wonderful pics of such cuties.
Oh thank you so much! I appreciate it. Sharing photos and info on pikas really is rewarding. They are such incredible animals and can bring so much joy!
Load More Replies...Hi. Originally from Colorado myself. I do miss listening to those little chirps they make. :)
I hope this made you smile then- nothing quite like pikas greeting you after a long hike!
Load More Replies...Thank you for spending all those hours in the chilly elements to bring us these adorable photos!
It is an honor, friend. These critters bring so much joy!
Load More Replies...Thank you! I love seeing them do "normal" things. It's just cuter haha
Load More Replies...This post was informative and also prompted me to look even further into the evolutions of these pikas and other animals. I honestly hadn't heard of these critters before. I'm thrilled google suggested this article to me.