Pika

Imagine a fluffy, round creature that looks a bit like a hamster mixed with a bunny, but with no tail! That's a pika! These little guys live high up in rocky mountains, where it can get super cold.

They are super small, about the size of a guinea pig. Pikas have short legs and fuzzy fur to keep them warm. They are related to rabbits and hares, but they are much smaller than most of them.

They are also called 'whistling hares' because they make a loud, high-pitched whistle to warn their friends about danger!

Pikas are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. They love munching on yummy grasses, colorful flowers, and tender young stems. When autumn arrives and the plants start to disappear, pikas get busy!

They gather lots of tasty plants and carry them into their cozy homes under the rocks. This special stash of food is called a 'haypile,' and it helps them survive the long, cold winter when they can't find fresh food outside. It's like packing a lunchbox for the whole winter!

Pikas make their homes in rocky places called talus slopes, which are piles of loose rocks. These rocky homes are perfect for them because they can hide from predators and stay safe. You can find pikas in the mountains of Asia and North America.

The ones in North America live in the western United States and Canada. Some pikas even live super high up, higher than the tallest mountains you can imagine, like over 20,000 feet! That's way, way higher than most airplanes fly!

One of the coolest things about pikas is their alarm call. When a pika spots a sneaky fox or a swooping hawk, it lets out a loud, piercing whistle. This whistle is like a siren, warning all the other pikas nearby to hide quickly!

They are so good at hiding in the rocks that it's hard to even see them. Their scientific name is Ochotona, which comes from a word that means 'pika.' They are the smallest animals in the rabbit and hare family, making them super special mountain dwellers.