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.
Tag Archives: American pika
Sunset on the Rocks
When I visited Mount Rainier National Park last fall, 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 a rock wall near sunset.
What’s All This Then?
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 …
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.