Pika afoot (2 of 2)

Description:

After briefly snacking on some grass blades, this American pika (Ochotona princeps princeps) with the remaining blades in its mouth headed back towards its well-stocked haystack that will ultimately be the key to surviving the winter season. And after having already endured an early fall snowstorm, it was keenly aware that time was running out. This pika was literally within a few feet of where I was standing, i.e. this picture was not taken with a zoom lens.Sept 28, 2016, Brighton area, approx. 9000 ft elev.