American Pika_DSC0081
Residents of high elevation talus slopes, American Pikas (Ochtona princeps) are fun to watch. They keep themselves busy all day gathering up a variety of forbs growing in between the rocks. Each mouthful is taken to a special spot where it is either added to a haystack or spread out on a rock to dry in the sun.
The Pika, despite the bitterly cold winters, will not hibernate, but live out the winter under the snow maintaining access to the food it stored.
Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, CO