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Pikers.
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This young male has been awake all winter, living on the food reserves he built up last year.
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For him, summer can't come soon enough.
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As the sun's warmth returns for just a few weeks, this harsh world is transformed into a rich, high-altitude meadow.
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It's what all the pikers here have been waiting for, for almost ten months.
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There's no time to waste.
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Ready?
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Steady?
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Eek!
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Now they must collect as much food as quickly as they possibly can.
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But some of them seem in less of a hurry.
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Clearly, biding their time.
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The others are gathering leaves non-stop.
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They build haystacks, and that takes a lot of work.
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They build haystacks, and that takes a lot of work.
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Each mouthful has to be carefully placed to allow the sunlight to dry it.
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They also add a few leaves of other plants that contain chemicals, which will help preserve the hay during the winter.
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As many as 11,000 return journeys may be needed...
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to build a reasonably large haystack.
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And then it has to be guarded against opportunistic neighbors.
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The weather is showing signs of changing.
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It's time to make a move.
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This piker specializes in stealing from its neighbors.
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PIKER SPECIAL
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Got away with it.
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Again.
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PIKER SPECIAL
