The northern or collared pika (Ochotona collaris) is closely related to hares and rabbits. Also called the "rock rabbit," "coney," and "little chief hare," the pika's name is derived from the Siberian word for this animal, puka. All but 2 of the 19 existing species of pika occur in Asia, where they probably originated. Fossil remains indicate that the pika family is over 15 million years old and most likely reached North America by crossing the Bering land bridge.

General description: Pikas have stocky bodies, short legs, and are almost tailless. A distinct grayish patch on the shoulder and neck forms the northern pika's "collar," appearing in definite contrast to the white fur on its chest and stomach. Pikas have fur-covered feet, but bare toe pads. Their sharp, curved claws help them climb from rock to rock with ease. Pikas are highly alert, possessing excellent hearing and vision. When fully grown, they weigh about 5 ounces (140 gms).

Pikas form colonies in mountainous terrain, living in old rock slides, talus slopes, or around large boulders, usually with a meadow or patches of vegetation in the vicinity. They are normally found at high elevations, but isolated colonies near sea level have also been found. Small burrows at the edge of rock piles and the presence of small, dark, oval droppings indicate the existence of a pika colony. The presence of their "hay piles" will positively identify the colony.

Pikas are diurnal, being most active during the morning and late afternoon when their short, shrill bark not only advertises the boundaries of their territory but also warns other colony members of intruders.

Life history: During the pika's spring breeding season, its aggressiveness and sense of territory are at a low--a marked contrast to most territorial mammals. The peak of its breeding season occurs in May and early June as snow begins to melt and the first green plants of the season start to appear. Female pikas can breed and produce young at about 1 year of age. The young are born blind and nearly hairless after a 30-day gestation period. Litters of two to six are cared for by the females alone. Females breed for a second time shortly after bearing their first litter of the season and produce a second litter before the end of summer.

Young pikas grow surprisingly quickly, reaching their adult size after only 40 to 50 days. The average maximum natural life span for a pika is three years.

Food habits and behavior: Pikas are vegetarians, feeding on the stems and leaves of various grasses, weeds, and small shrubs. They are remarkable for their highly-developed haymaking behavior. By early July, pikas begin periodically clipping or pulling up stems and twigs, which they carry back to the colony in their mouths and store under overhanging rocks, in crevices, and along the edges of boulders. As summer advances, haymaking becomes the dominant activity, and the tiny haystacks become progressively larger. During this time the pikas become less tolerant of their neighbors and defend their feeding territory more and more vigorously.

By early fall the pika's territoriality is at a peak, with much excited scolding and chasing of one another. Feeding territories may be as large as one-half acre, often overlapping, with neighbors making occasional forays into each other's territory to raid haystacks and feeding grounds. During this period pikas become far less cautious and can often be approached quite closely by humans.

Pikas do not hibernate, and their survival during the winter is dependent on the success of their haying season. Each pika may make several haystacks within its territorial boundary but will usually concentrate on a single main stack, which by late August may be up to 2 feet high and 2 feet in diameter. The piles of hay are often partially exposed to sunlight, allowing successive layers of hay to cure. Pikas use the same sites for their haystacks year after year.

Little is known about what pikas do in the winter, although they are sometimes seen sunning themselves on large rocks on clear days. Presumably, they divide the rest of their time between feeding, chasing off other pikas trying to raid their haystacks, and resting up for the next haying season.

Predators and parasites: Pikas rely heavily on their sharp eyes and hearing to warn them of potential predators. When one colony member gives an alarm call, others immediately dive into their burrows or escape into tiny spaces between the rocks. Weasels are among the pika's most persistent predators. The weasel's small size allows it to pursue pikas into burrows and among the rocks. A relative of the weasel, the marten, also hunts pikas on occasion. Other predators include hawks, eagles, and owls.

Pikas respond differently to different predators. When a hawk, marten, or other large predator appears, pikas call loudly to warn others and then disappear into the rocks. When a weasel is detected, pikas are silent, unwilling to attract the attention of this smaller predator which can follow them into their burrows.

Pikas are also affected by parasites such as bot fly larvae. Developing from eggs laid beneath the skin, the larvae produce lesions under the skin. Fleas, mites, and nematodes are also common parasites in pikas.

Text: Roger Smith
Illustration: Dan DeRoux
Revised and reprinted 1994