Rocky Mountain Wildlife - 1. Pika

Pika - Ochotona princeps.
Quick and agile, the industrious pika inhabits alpine boulderfields feeding on lush vegetation.  A cousin to rabbits and hares, pikas gather vegetation into "haypiles" for consumption during the winter.

1991 Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski
Published by Rocky Mountain Nature Association

from the set:
Rocky Mountain Wildlife
Twelve Postcards

Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski have worked as a photographic team since 1981, specializing in wildlife and nature photography.  They are international grand prize winners of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competion.  Other credits include National Wildlife, Audubon, Outdoor Photographer, Natural History and National Geographic Publications.

A Pika from the Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park

Pika (Ochotona princeps)
The industries pika (Ochotona princeps) stockpiles up to 50 pounds of grass each summer to sustain itself through the winter.  This member of the rabbit family has short round ears to help reduce the loss of vital heat in the frigid alpine air.  Due to climate change, their species is at risk.

Photographer - Gene Putney
2013

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Grand Teton National Park is an approximately 310,000 acres (130,000 ha) National Park in northwestern Wyoming, USA.