A small brown pika holds dried plant material in its mouth while standing on rocky alpine terrain with a gray stone backdrop.

Pika Gathers Vegetation on Alpine Scree

An adult pika (Ochotona princeps) carries a mouthful of dried vegetation and soil across the rocky scree of Mount Rainier National Park’s alpine zone, foraging during summer. © 2024 Chris Smith. All rights reserved.

Species

Ochotona princeps (pika)

LC Least Concern · population decreasing

Ecoregion

Central-Southern Cascades Forests

Habitat

Scree (Talus)

Places

Pierce

Protected Areas

Mount Rainier National Park

Indigenous Lands

Season

Summer

Lighting

Midday

Genre

Wildlife Portrait

Behavior

Foraging

Life Stage

Adult

Camera Details

Camera: NIKON Z 9
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/2500s
ISO: 3200
Focal Length: 560mm

© 2026 smithographs. All rights reserved. This image may not be reproduced without permission.