Map of Shoshone National Forest and Yellowstone Lake
|
Brown Bear
|
Deep in the Shoshone National forest of Wyoming, a brown bear is hunting for fish in the nearby Yellowstone Lake. Brown bears are omnivorous, which means they eat plants and animals. While they can survive on plants, their diet is mostly found from hunting squirrels, fish foxes, and small rodents on the forest floor.
|
It is the early spring, and the brown bear has finally come out from its winter hibernation. While the brown bear hunts for fish in the banks of the Yellowstone Lake, water wets its fur, emphasizing the thin build of the brown bear's body. After five to seven months of winter hibernation, the brown bear has lost its fat and is hungry and ready for a quick meal.
North American Pika
|
Meanwhile, on the top of one of the surrounding mountains, an American pika is scurrying around looking for water. It has been a very dry winter and the water is very scarce up on the mountain. After hours of searching, the pika’s only choice is to descend down the mountain to look for water in the forest below.
|
This challenging descent will decide if this American pika will survive or die. Pikas are one of the few animals that can survive in alpine terrain, and above the tree line. The pika’s natural habitat, on the top of mountains (in Wyoming, Montana, California, Colorado, and Canada) rarely gets above freezing temperatures. This means that when they experience warmer temperatures (above 65 degrees) and lower altitude, it only takes a few hours for the pika to overheat and die.
|
In the meantime, the brown bear struggles to catch one of Yellowstone's fine fish delicacies. Despite its efforts to get its mouth on a fish, the brown bear is unable to. Lacking the strength and speed, the brown bear walks away with nothing to eat. It's hasn’t been very long since it has woken up, but the hunger it feels increases the more time passes. If the brown bear doesn’t get any food anytime soon, it will become irritated.
The pika has been down the mountain and looking for water for two hours without luck. It is a hot, spring day and the pika is slowly losing its energy. While it’s thick brown-colored fur keeps it warm above the tree line, it is causing the pika to overheat on the valley floor. The pika can no longer run because its energy is almost completely gone.
After hours of searching the forest, the pika is in luck. It has found a lake. The pika scurries over and starts drinking. With each passing second, the pika becomes less aware of its surroundings. It is too busy drinking water, so it has no idea what is standing just 20 ft away. It is a brown bear. All 700 lbs of it.
|
Brown Bear running at full speed
|
Not too far from the shore of the lake, the brown bear spots the pika drinking from the lake. The smaller animal has caught the bears attention, and it is quickly reminded of how hungry it has become. The brown bear is a powerful creature and can hunt down large animals such as moose, buffalo, and elk. This would be no challenge. The brown bear stands attentively, and its ears perked forward. It observes the pika from a distance, its shoulders hunched, waiting for only a moment before lunging forward, chasing the pika with whatever was left of its energy.
|
The pika is startled and dashes away, quick to get escape, running at a speed of 25 miles per hour. Its pace is steady, and the distance between both the brown bear and the pika is large, but soon the gap begins to close in. Brown bears are able to run from speeds of 35 to 40 miles per hour. The pika would usually be a match for this speedy animal, but its energy is draining with every stride it runs. It has been down the mountain, far from its home at 14,000 ft for too long. The pika is slowly dwindling. The pika slows down making it easier for the bear to catch up with the pika quickly.
The pika has become easy prey for the brown bear and is caught.
The brown bear has won!!