PIKAS AT THE PEAK
by J.E. Rogers
There
are a number of different species of Pika, but this week’s post will focus on
one, the American Pika. Although the IUCN* ranks them as ‘least concern,’ there
has been some alarm recently. It seems that in several areas of the west,
California and Tahoe specifically, the animal’s population has disappeared.
Photo credit: Shattil &
Rozinski/naturpl.com arkive.org
According
to UC Santa Cruz scientists and other studies, the American Pika has also disappeared
from the Black Rock Range in Nevada and Zion National Park in Utah. The studies
concluded that climate change is having a dramatic effect on these small
mammals. They prefer cooler climates, living at an average elevation of about
10,000 feet above sea level. Scientists suspect that the American Pikas will no longer be
able to live in and around the Lake Tahoe region as the area has become too
warm for them.
Photo credit: John
Cancalosi/www.ardea.com arkive.org
You can go to the following site to read more
about this issue, but be warned, the individual who wrote the article refers to
the Pika as a rodent. The Pika is NOT a rodent. The Pika is a member of the
Lagomorpha family which includes rabbits.
All Pikas
are quite vocal, as the following video will demonstrate. They bark out
warnings and converse with other Pikas in their territory.
A diurnal animal, the Pika
is active during the day. It is watchful for predators like, hawks, eagles,
coyotes and bobcats. They make their home in hilly rock piles where their
grayish brown, thick coats blend in with their surroundings.
Photo
credit: William C. Gladish
They eat
grasses and will spend a lot of time ‘harvesting’ their meals and storing them
in so-called haystacks. These piles can contain as much as a bushel of their
favorite eats. Find the Pika in the below haystack. J
Photo credit: Tom & Pat
Leeson www.ardea.com arkive.org
Although
they are social animals and live in groups, they will defend their territory
from other Pikas they view are intruders.
Photo credit: news.mongabay.com
Studies show that the American Pika is a flexible animal. It is
being effected by climate change, but it is adjusting to the problem by moving
to other environments that are more favorable. Scientists have also noted
that there is a change in their breeding habits as a result of
climate change, which may also help the Pika survive. The
following article delves into this issue more deeply.
Below is a link to an informative video narrated by a wildlife biologist. Take a few
minutes to watch, and you’ll learn a great deal about this little mammal.
To read
more about this unusual mammal, visit the following sites:
Thank
you so much for stopping by and I do hope you come by again.
Enjoy!
Jeanne E. Rogers, Award
Winning Author
The Sword of Demelza, The
Gift of Sunderland,
One Hot Mess, A Child’s
Environmental Fable, and
Kohana, A Native American Creation Myth
Where Endangered Animal Heroes
Roam the Pages!
