September 2019
American Pika
The american pika belongs to the hare family and can be found in the mountains above the tree line in western North America. In the short summer months they collect herbs, grass and seeds to have food stock for the winter. Up to 30 different kinds of plants can be found in a pikas den. In the winter months they spend most of their time in their dens. Like hares they deposit two kinds of fecal droppings: hard brown pellets and caecal pellets that are soft black shiny strings. The caecal pellets are consumed again or stored for later, with this feeding behaviour pikas are able to gain 68% more nutrition from the food.This american pika i captured at about 3800m in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado. For more Colorado wildlife click here.