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Collared Pika
Page Index:
The Species: Ochotona Collaris
From amongst the boulders in the talus slope, a weak "meep" signals the presence of the pika. But locating this little ventriloquist is a challenge. Grey as the rocks in which it lives and about the size of a tennis ball, the collared pika is difficult to spot, especially when its call never seems to come from where the pika is located.
Distribution
Also known by the name, coney and rock rabbit, the pika is found across most mountainous regions of western North America. However, the collared pika of the north is separated from the very similar Rocky Mountain pika by nearly 800 kilometres of suitable, yet empty habitat. Scientists have suggested that the most likely explanation is related to the last glacial age, when northern and southern populations were isolated by continental and mountain glaciers. These populations survived in refugia where glaciers did not exist. Today, the collared pika has expanded its range south and east but only as far as the northwestern corner of British Columbia. In the Yukon, the collared pika is found in most of the mountainous Yukon except for the southeast portion and the extreme north.
Although pikas are usually found in higher, mountainous terrain, they are also known in much lower regions including sea level rock slides inland from the Alaskan coast. In the Yukon, collared pikas have been seen as low as the shore of Kluane Lake near Cultus Bay.
Characteristics
Although at first glance the pika looks more like a mouse and not at all like a rabbit, it is classified in the rabbit and hare order, Lagomorpha, which contains as well the snowshoe hare. A quick examination of a pikas skull shows clearly the connection, especially the double front incisors in which a smaller tooth is set directly behind the large front one. One other very rabbit-like feature of the pika is its habit of eating food twice: once as vegetation harvested from the slopes, then a second time in the form of soft faeces. Through redigestion, pikas and rabbits absorb key additional nutrients such as vitamin B12.
A pika is truly an edge animal: using the jumbled rocks on the fringe of the talus slope for its protective home and using the nearby vegetated slopes for its food supply. A study carried out in the mountains of Washington and Alaska revealed that both the collared and Rocky Mountain pika live only on the margins of talus slopes where suitable vegetation is nearby -- usually within five to six metres of its home.
Food for a pika takes the form of a wide variety of succulent greenery: nearly all plants in the vicinity, including leaves of mountain avens, lupines, vetch, dwarf huckleberry, kinnikinnik, and grasses. As summer commences much of the abundant food is cured in the dry mountain air, usually in haystacks among the rocks. These haystacks can become quite large -- as much as 35 centimetres high and 60 centimetres across. Usually a pika puts most of its effort into producing one large haystack but may also store small amounts in scattered locations. The habit of building haystacks is essential to a pikas survival because North American pikas do not hibernate and must have food for winter.
Life Around A Haystack
A haystack often forms the center point of each pikas territory that usually covers about 400 square metres. Socially, pikas will tolerate each other at a minimum distance of about 20 metres but a greater distance of 75 metres is preferred. As a result, pika territories are often strung out in a well-spaced line along the perimeter of a talus slope.
Much of a pikas calling is thought to be a declaration of, this is my territory, which helps reduce the need to fight or chase ones neighbor away. Although fights seem to be rare, chasing ones neighbor is still a part of everyday life. Occasionally a call will announce the presence of a predator such as a hawk, owl, grizzly or ermine (short-tailed weasel). The ermine is one of the most effective predators because it is small enough to pursue a pika through the maze of crevices in a talus slope. Fortunately, ermine feed on a wide variety of mice and other small mammals and do not decimate pika colonies.
The loss of part of the population to predators and other factors is compensated through the birth of two to five young in late spring and possibly again in mid-summer. Living within their parents territory for part of the summer, they will move into available vacant habitat by early autumn.
High temperature can be a critical factor to pika survival but it seems irrelevant for northern pikas that can easily avoid the occasional heat wave by retreating to a cool environment under the rocks.
Pikas and People
Aside from their aesthetic value, the Yukons pikas are safe from predation by humans. For those who enjoy the hiking and climbing in alpine terrain, the call of the pika is a welcome sound in the often quiet landscape. Amongst the Southern Tutchone, it was considered bad luck to bother a pika with foul weather being the predicted consequence.
Viewing Opportunities
Since pikas are daytime animals, they are out and about at the same time as most people. Aside from the fact that they are quite specific to talus slopes, usually above treeline, they are easily found because of their call. However, although they are heard, they are not necessarily easy to see.
Usually, it is necessary to spend many minutes watching in the direction of the sound (if the direction can be determined!) until the pikas movement is discerned. The pikas lower pitched call is quite different from the squeak of an arctic ground squirrel and the whistle of a marmot.
Pikas are approachable as long as you have considerable patience. By moving very slowly and quietly, with no sudden flinches or hand movements, you may be able to approach very closely. Once near its home territory, you may find that the pika will approach within a few metres -- or centimetres -- if you are able to remain nearly motionless and quiet for a few minutes. It seems that pikas are sufficiently curious to come and check you out before going back to their busy chore of haymaking.