‘English Pika on a rock.’  CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Isn’t it cute!  The Pika (see photo above) is another reminder from the ‘Book of Nature’ that we need to think about and prepare for our future.  This high-altitude critter, rarely seen below 8,200 feet, only 7-8 inches long is very vigorous in its preparation for its future.  It takes advantage of the availability of blooming flowers and vegetation which appear in the summer meadows found in the high elevations of the mountains of New Mexico, California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Western Canada.                                                 

It makes an average of 14,000 trips from its den in the rocks to the meadows collecting flowers and vegetation to add to its typically 61 pounds of ‘cache’ called ‘haystacks’ it saves under rocks.  Since it doesn’t hibernate, it stores up this food to survive the harsh winters at the higher elevations it calls home.

What is incredibly fascinating is it also collects poisonous plants that are distributed throughout the haystack.  These plants release toxins that reduce the presence of mold within its ‘haystack’. If it were to eat these toxic plants immediately, it would die!  BUT, over the winter the toxins dissipate, and the plants become edible!

What are these ‘vigorous’ Pikas trying to tell us?  I think they are encouraging us to think about putting something away for our future, creating our own ‘cache’!  Did you know that according to a recent GOBankingRate survey, a third of Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement!!! 

According to their survey, 36% have less than $10,000 saved.  27% of Americans have $10,000 to $50,000.  15% have between $50,000 and $100,000 saved and 9% have $100,000 to $200,000.
Only a small percentage have more than this saved.

Here is a tip from Fidelity Investments.  They say a great way to make sure you have enough in your retirement savings is to save at least 15% of your pre-tax income each year. The earlier you can start setting aside money for retirement, the lower your yearly savings rate can be.  If you haven’t started saving for retirement yet, it’s not too late. If you start saving at 30, you might want to save 18% annually for retirement; or, if you start saving at 35, you should save 23%, according to Fidelity.  Good advice!
Oh that we would be as vigorous as the Pika and prepare for our future.  I’ll guarantee you; it will be here before you know it!  Ask me, I’m 81 already! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Make a new year’s resolution to listen to the Pika and PREPARE for your future!

As you can see from the title of the video below, ‘Pikas steal from one-another!  Another great lesson form ‘The Book of Nature!’  If they steal from each other, then their stealing is totally in vain!  It is a perfect metaphor for the scripture, ‘You reap exactly what you sow!

‘Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.’  Galatians 6:7.

Pikas in the Rockies steal from their neighbors to survive!