Picture a round, furry rabbit-like animal that squeaks like a pet toy when it opens its mouth. That’s a pika. It’s one of the most lovable little mammals in The United States and Canada, and simply wait until you hear what it needs to say.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) highlighted the American pika in a social networks post today, sharing a short clip of a pika making its super-cute squeak.
The USFWS states the American pika uses its squeaky call to “talk” to other pikas.
“The small herbivores can identify specific high-pitched calls from other pika in the location,” the Instagram post states.
The pika in the video lives among the rocks of Mount Rainier, which is Washington’s highest mountain. Enjoy and listen here:
American pikas are small herbivores in the exact same family as rabbits and hares. They live in mountainous regions of western North America, like Mount Rainier.
Pikas are active year-round. They endure extreme winter seasons thanks to their thick fur and their capability to plan ahead. They create “haypiles”– winter food storage– made of plant life like ferns, lawns, shrubs, and conifer branches. This becomes their food source throughout the winter. Smart, huh?
And, did we discuss they squeak?
When it comes to what one pika stated to the other pika, we do not understand, but we might most likely listen to squeaking pikas all the time.
A pika is a charming little mammal that squeaks like a pet dog toy when it opens its mouth. View and listen here.