What is an American Pika?
Description
American pikas are small, furry animals related to
rabbits and hares. Pikas have short, stout bodies with
big, round ears. They have sharp curved claws and
padded toes to scamper around alpine rocks. Excellent
hearing and vision keep them aware of any danger in
their surroundings.
Pikas have brown and black fur, camouflaging them
against rocks. Thick fur keeps Pika warm in the winter,
while furry paws provide traction in the snow. Jo Varner, a biologist reports, “[Pikas]
are basically shaped like spheres, which is optimal for conserving heat. They have thick
fur coat and a high metabolic rate, which means they generate a lot of heat. The thick
fur traps it (heat), so does there spherical shape.” During the summer, they grow a much
lighter coat of fur, but the fur is still thick enough to overheat if temperatures are too
high.
Diet
Pika are herbivores that love grasses, weeds
and tall flowers. Pikas do not hibernate in
the winter, so they must collect food
throughout the summer in “haypiles.” Pikas
collect extra wildflowers and grasses and the
sun's heat dries the plants so they do not get
moldy. The plants are stored in a pika's den
until winter. This behavior is called “haying”
Habitat
American Pikas are found in mountainous alpine
habitat, 8,200 feet or more in elevation and above the
tree line. They live on talus, a pile of rock fragments,
and cliffs near mountain meadows. This cool and moist
alpine terrain helps protect pikas from temperatures
above 78 degrees Fahrenheit-a temperature at which a
pika will die after only two hours. Snow cover over the
talus provides insulation and warmth during the
winter, while the rocks provide a cooling effect in the summer.
How Pikas Communicate
American pikas are often heard before they are
seen. They make calls and sing to define and
protect their territory, alert others to the
presence of dangers and attract mates. The call
sounds like the bleat of lamb, but is more highpitched and squeaky.
Adaptations
American pikas have adapted to living in very
inhospitable environments. They live where most other mammals do not venture to go-the treeless slopes of mountains. It is very cold, rocky and
treacherous for the tiny pika.
Pikas help protect themselves by living in colonies. They
live near other pikas and will alert the group to predators
by sending out a
warning call. Weasels,
hawks and coyotes can
prey on pikas.
Although pikas live in
colonies, they are very territorial over their den and
surrounding area. They will give off territorial calls
to define the boundaries between each pika
neighbor. They make their dens among rocks.
Pikas are active in the daytime and they do not
hibernate in winter. They are active throughout the
year, but they tend to spend most of their time
inside the den in the winter. Pikas eat stored grasses
to survive and venture out to forage when the
weather permits.
Unlike other mountain species that can move to
higher altitudes in warming climates, pikas live so
high on the mountain that there is nowhere for
them to go. Without our protection and help,
American pikas could be the first species with the
distinction of going extinct due to global warming.
Map of Pika locations in Utah.
Circles = Since 1983
Squares = Before 1983