Pikas: The cutest animal you may never see again

[marmar]

from Grist:





Pikas: The cutest animal you may never see again (SLIDESHOW)
by Jess Zimmerman

20 Jan 2011 7:28 AM


Is the pika America's cutest rodent? Think fast about that one, because global warming is herding it towards extinction. A recent study published in Global Change Biology found almost a fivefold increase in the local extinction rate of pikas. We've put together a slideshow, so you can get your fill of their cuddly little faces before it's too late. (You can also get a free, annoying pika squeak ringtone for your phone, if you're worried about their calls disappearing from our mountainsides.)

Slideshow: http://www.grist.org/article/2011-01-20-pikas-the-cutest-animal-you-may-never-see-again-slideshow

[hlthe2b]

1. Oh, what a cute little "duffer."

Damn...

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. We have one that nests in our cabin.

With no electric lights, It gets tiresome chasing it out in the middle of the night.

Definitely cute though.

[jimlup]

3. I always enjoy being visited by pikas when camping at altitude

I often hike and camp high in the rockies, sometimes above 12,000 ft in Colorado. I am often visited by pikas at high camp. They are indeed very cute. They have personality. At a camp near Mt. Sneffles I named one "Brave" and the other "Shy". Brave would come right up to me and even climb on my cooking gear. "Shy" would run from my camp if she detected even a slight movement from me. I didn't actually know their sexes but I just decided the smart shy one was female.