The animal kingdom is always amazing. Adorable hedgehogs brighten our days with their squishy appearance. Attentive meerkats peering over the tall plains grass make us giggle. Antelopes bounding across fields remind us of freedom. With 6,400 species of mammals, we would be hard-pressed to name even half of them. But the incredible flower-gathering prowess of the tiny pika has caught our attention.
Although he has mouse-like features, this little critter is actually related to the rabbit. They have short legs, appear very round in the torso, and have no tail. They have an even coat of soft fur. Unlike traditional rabbits, the pika has small, rounded ears.
Although you might find pika gathering wildflowers in a meadow, they prefer rocky areas. Their diet consists of a number of plants, grasses, small flowers, and especially young stems. They stick closer to their burrow in the winter, bringing twigs, hay, and plenty of snacks into their homes. The collection of stored food is known as a “haystack.” Pika don’t hibernate, so the haystack provides them with nourishment during the colder, winter months.
Many species in the animal kingdom have vocal warning alarms. Squirrels use a low-timbered, almost growly “chuk-chuk-chuk” to warn of potential threats. Other animals have loud screeches. The pika has earned the nickname, “whistling hare,” due to its high-pitched whistling warning alarm. This brave little “all-for-myself” trooper manages to warn others nearby as they dive into their hiding spot.
Pika are native to cooler climates in North America and Asia. While they prefer craggy rock surfaces where they burrow between the cracks and crevices, some will create underground burrows. There are several different species of pika, ranging in weight from about 4 ounces to 12 1/2 ounces. The one consistency throughout the range of species is their fondness for gathering flowers!
Ounce for ounce, the tiny pika is a powerhouse of industriousness. Watch your step if you are out in our national parks. They may be hiding in undergrowth and other areas where flowers and grasses grow.
A quick warning. The pika doesn’t get in trouble for gathering the wildflowers, but humans would. Please respect the environment if you head out in search of this amazingly adorable little critter.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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