Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains (Montana / Wyoming) I was observing the American pika in the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains for about a week in mid September. In the morning after the sun's radiance began to warm the surface of the talus rock, the pika would emerge from their rocky homes and commence collection of food to add to their food cache (hay piles). One morning, in an instant, the pikas virtually disappeared from the talus and adjacent meadow. Within a few moments, an A