An elusive species with extraordinary qualities
Pikas are related to rabbits and live at high elevations in the mountains of North America. Climate change is shrinking the areas where they can live
They are an elusive species with extraordinary qualities.
Lukas Moyer Horner searches for pikas in high altitude rocky outcrops. He studies their behavior “They only can live in Taos fields Boulder piles and those are only found in mountain ranges”.
Pikas are used to getting nutrition from unusual places. they are so adapted to the cold. they do not hibernate but stay under these rocks beneath up to 20 feet of snow for eight to nine months of the year.to survive they will even eat their own feces.
The problem comes when it gets too warm.
If Pikas are outside and ambient temperature of about 80
degree Fahrenheit they will die after about an hour of exposure. They
are emblematic type of animal that is going to have trouble dealing with
climate change.
Southern populations will almost certainly disappear as it
gets warmer. The only question how long before that happens here.
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