Pika

A pika is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. They resemble its near relative, the rabbit, but have shorter, rounded ears. They have small, round ears, a fairly round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail. The Himalayas and neighboring mountains are home to the large-eared pika, one of the highest mammals, which can be found at elevations of more than 6,000 m (20,000 ft).

Many refer to pikas as "whistling hares" because of the distinctive whistling sound they use to communicate. They eat plants and seeds gathered during the warmer seasons of the year. The food is buried and used for wintertime feeding. They don't have good nesting locations in the areas they reside in, which is why they live beneath. Because of this, they begin to create burrows, which serve purposes beyond simply providing them with refuge. Pikas create burrows that both lessen erosion and improve the soil quality in the places where they inhabit.