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Can Alpine Mammals Avoid Effects of Climate Change?
#7264 09/13/10 02:44 PM
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wagga Offline OP
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Here is the reference.

"The study will follow five alpine mammals: the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, the American pika, the yellow-bellied marmot, the Belding's ground squirrel, and the golden-mantled ground squirrel."

About ten years ago there was a pika family right at the top of Mitchell Peak ca. 10,365 ft. in the Jennie Lakes Wilderness.

If anybody is interested in climbing Mitchell (and it's worth-while), I would love to know if they are still there. Take some fresh lettuce and call it a scientific experiment.

Here's Marek Warszawski's trip write-up.


Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII
Re: Can Alpine Mammals Avoid Effects of Climate Change?
wagga #7294 09/14/10 05:17 AM
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The Pika's primary diet consists of grasses, which it gathers into underground stashes for winter consumption. Please don't feed them lettuce or anything else; they can fend for themselves without our help.

The same rule applies to Marmots: don't feed them!

Re: Can Alpine Mammals Avoid Effects of Climate Change?
Bob West #7323 09/14/10 02:21 PM
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Topic close to my heart. I just love seeing the Picas on Whitney. They seem to be used to people and come very close while you camp. There also seem to be quite a few. But, I've never seen one below 12,000 feet or so.

Don't think they would do well with a warming climate as they need the temperature to be Below 77 degrees.

They've been denied Endangered status per this article:

Pikas Denied Endangered Status


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Re: Can Alpine Mammals Avoid Effects of Climate Change?
Bob West #7335 09/14/10 04:13 PM
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wagga Offline OP
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Sorry, I wasn't clear.

I've never fed the pikas or marmots. What I had in mind was to entice them out, to be really sure that they are (or not) still there.

And since they are lagomorphs, I suspect the teeny bunnies would be curious about lettuce.

I, too adore them, Even if they are coprophagic.


Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII
Re: Can Alpine Mammals Avoid Effects of Climate Change?
wagga #7346 09/14/10 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted By: wagga
I, too adore them, Even if they are coprophagic.


OK Dave, I bit and Googled it. Thanks for the image . . .

Re: Can Alpine Mammals Avoid Effects of Climate Change?
Bulldog34 #7392 09/15/10 12:02 PM
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coprophagic?

do they have coprophilia, or are they just hungry? Sled dogs do the same.

Re: Can Alpine Mammals Avoid Effects of Climate Change?
Harvey Lankford #7395 09/15/10 12:52 PM
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wagga Offline OP
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Coprophilia is more of a psychiatric condition.

"Like rabbits, after eating they initially produce soft green feces, which they eat again to extract further nutrition, before producing the final, solid, fecal pellets."

I have also read that they steal and eat marmot poop.


Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII
Re: Can Alpine Mammals Avoid Effects of Climate Change?
wagga #7397 09/15/10 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted By: wagga
Coprophilia is more of a psychiatric condition.

"Like rabbits, after eating they initially produce soft green feces, which they eat again to extract further nutrition, before producing the final, solid, fecal pellets."

I have also read that they steal and eat marmot poop.

So I guess they "eat $h!+ and don't die."


Journey well...
Re: Can Alpine Mammals Avoid Effects of Climate Change?
+ @ti2d #7410 09/15/10 01:50 PM
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> which they eat again to extract further nutrition

Sort of like programming... I have to run it through way too many times before I get it right. frown


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