Daily Postcard: The chances of being hunted by a pika are low, but never zero. Pikas are found in small, isolated colonies at the higher elevations of Bandelier National Monument. They live in volcanic boulder fields where they retreat to tunnels under the rocks for shelter and protection. They don’t hibernate. Instead, they stay active all winter long traveling in tunnels under the rocks and snow. Deep blankets of snow are important in helping pikas survive. If the snow is deep enough it provides insulation for the pikas living below. Too little snow and the pikas risk freezing to death. They stay alive during the winter months by eating dried plants cached earlier in the year, but they may travel out to vegetated areas nearby to collect more plant materials when possible. Photo by Sally King/NPS