Trent Sizemore is a wildlife photographer based in West Yellowstone, Montana, where he’s built an impressive portfolio of stunning animal photos — from bison to bears to moose and elk.
But one recent wildlife encounter was with a decidedly smaller animal.
While walking near a rocky outcrop, a loud chirping sound struck Sizemore’s ears. And, turning his zoom lens in its direction, he captured footage of the adorable little animal who was making all that racket:
The animal was a pika — a small, rabbit-like mammal that lives in mountainous regions of North America and Asia.
Sizemore’s approach that day had evidently been noticed by the pika, who began to let out a surprisingly loud alarm call for such a tiny animal, roughly the size of a potato.
But that isn’t the only impressive thing about pikas.
Despite living at high altitudes where winters are often the harshest, pikas do not conserve energy by hibernating. Instead, during the summer months, they gather bouquets of vegetation inside their hideaways to last them through the winter.
It only makes them all the cuter.
Sadly, because pikas are built for cool, alpine weather, they are considered at particular risk of temperature increases associated with climate change. In fact, one study by the National Park Service predicts that some populations could go extinct by the end of the century.
So while Sizemore's encounter offers a charming glimpse into the daily life of a pika, it also serves as a reminder of why these remarkable mountain mammals are worth protecting.
