American Pika Pictures

Pikas in Paradise

These pictures were taken in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park in the fall of 2008. All pictures were taken on the Pinnacle Peak Trail, where the pikas were abundant.

An American pika with twigs in its mouth on the Pinnacle Peak Trail in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park

Pay Me No Mind

While hiking on the Pinnacle Peak Trail in Mount Rainier, I was watching a hoary marmot that kept turning and looking up over its shoulder. I could hear something rummaging around up and out-of-sight on the hillside but was surprised to see the marmot paying it so much attention. The source of the noise was revealed when this pika popped out and ran across the trail with twigs from several different plants in its mouth. It paused briefly before continuing into the talus field to store away its treasure for the winter, then returned to the hillside for more plundering.

Jealousy

It’s hard not to be jealous of how well-adapted some animals are to their environment. It was a little humbling to watch these tiny little pikas sprinting across the talus field with plants in their mouths. I don’t think I’d be quite so quick if I had to drag several 12 foot tall trees in my mouth as I ran across a boulder field with rocks as big as a school bus.

An American pika with leaves in its mouth on the Pinnacle Peak Trail in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

Everyone’s a comedian. Taken during the All American Pika Variety Hour on Mount Rainier’s Pinnacle Peak Trail.

An American pika peaks out from a rock wall near sunset on the Pinnacle Peak Trail in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park

Sunset on the Rocks

I saw more pikas on the the Pinnacle Peak Trail than I’ve ever seen on a trail before. It would only be a slight exaggeration to say I saw more pikas on the trail than I had seen in my entire life until then. They weren’t all close to the trail, the talus fields are extensive and often lead far from the trail, but some of them were close enough for pictures, including this pika that popped out of the rock wall near sunset.

An American pika chews on long blades of grass on the Pinnacle Peak Trail in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park

Forked Tongue

This pika's apparent forked tongue consists of two long blades of grass it was eating, holding on to them only with its mouth in typical pika fashion.

Pikas in the Tetons

American pika in Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park

Excellent

After taking my 500mm lens on the trail to Taggart Lake the day before, I decided to leave the weight behind the next day on the hike into Cascade Canyon. I wanted to bring it primarily for one reason: pikas. I had seen some earlier in the trip but always farther off than I liked.

High up in the canyon and a light rain starting, I came across this little fellow. It was a ways off and disappeared into the boulder field. To my surprise it popped up a few minutes later on the other side of the trail. I edged closer until it was in range of the my 100-400mm lens and took this picture, which reminds me of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons.

The rain picked up and I decided to turn around, up ahead was a narrow cliff passage and I’m scared of heights. I doubt I would have continued on a sunny day, but especially not now as the rain made the rocks slick. I knew my wife would never forgive me if I slipped off to my death so I headed back down the trail, happy that I had gotten what I came for.

American pika on the trail to Amphitheater Lake in Grand Teton National Park

Winter Colors

I came across this pika hiking up to Amphitheater Lake in the Tetons and stopped at the same boulder field on my way back down, the location was out of the wind and I was ready for some food and water. Some dark-eyed juncos splashed in a natural bird bath a few feet away, and then the little pika made a return appearance.

Though taken in the fall, the picture shows mostly winter colors. You can see a little of the oranges and yellows from the autumn leaves, but mostly the background is dominated by the white of the small snowfields. There wasn’t a lot of snow at this elevation, but a little higher up the snow was already inches deep on the trail.

Fall Colors

I had never seen pikas before visiting Grand Teton National Park. This is the second one I saw, sitting in a boulder field along the trail to Death Canyon! The first was a little earlier on the trail but also a little further away. This was one was much more cooperative and so I spent quite a bit of time watching it. It eventually popped up onto this rock with a view of the fall colors behind it. A beautiful moment on a beautiful trail in a beautiful park.

Pikas in Yellowstone

An American pika on Mount Washburn in Yellowstone National Park

Silent Sentinel

A pika keeps watch below the southern trail to Yellowstone's Mount Washburn in the fall of 2005. It wasn’t vocalizing like the pikas I had seen in the Tetons, the only reason I saw it was that I had been scanning every boulder field for marmots or pikas. I never saw any marmots on this particular hike (or any other pikas), although I have seen several marmots near the summit before.

	Pay Me No Mind While hiking on the Pinnacle Peak Trail in Mount Rainier, I was watching a hoary marmot that kept turning and looking up over its shoulder. I could hear something rummaging around up and out-of-sight on the hillside but was surprised to see the marmot paying it so much attention. The source of the noise was revealed when this pika popped out and ran across the trail with twigs from several different plants in its mouth. It paused briefly before continuing into the talus field to store away its treasure for the winter, then returned to the hillside for more plundering.
	Jealousy It’s hard not to be jealous of how well-adapted some animals are to their environment. It was a little humbling to watch these tiny little pikas sprinting across the talus field with plants in their mouths. I don’t think I’d be quite so quick if I had to drag several 12 foot tall trees in my mouth as I ran across a boulder field with rocks as big as a school bus.
	All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth Everyone’s a comedian. Taken during the All American Pika Variety Hour on Mount Rainier’s Pinnacle Peak Trail.
	Sunset on the Rocks I saw more pikas on the the Pinnacle Peak Trail than I’ve ever seen on a trail before. It would only be a slight exaggeration to say I saw more pikas on the trail than I had seen in my entire life until then. They weren’t all close to the trail, the talus fields are extensive and often lead far from the trail, but some of them were close enough for pictures, including this pika that popped out of the rock wall near sunset.
	Forked Tongue This pika's apparent forked tongue consists of two long blades of grass it was eating, holding on to them only with its mouth in typical pika fashion.