As I watched this hoary marmot, it 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.

Later in the day I discovered their caution was well founded …