American Pika
Pikas are diurnal herbivores that stay active throughout the year, including the winter when they survive on stashes of dried vegetation.
Summer and autumn they spend most of their time gathering grasses, sedges, and flowering plants, which they leave in piles to dry and then store for the colder months.
They live in large colonies, which have individual territories that are defended for nest sites and stored food. Rocky areas with loose soil are used for shelters and nest sites.
When pikas eat, their food passes quickly through their digestive system and is only partially digested. Subsequently, certain of their nutrient-rich feces are reingested for further digestion.
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Name: American Pika (Ochotona princeps)
Family: Ochotonidae (Pikas) Range: Northwestern United States and western Canada Habitat: Rocky terrain in montane regions Diet: Alpine grasses, sedges, thistles, fireweed, cushion plants and lichens Head and Body Length: 7 to 8 inches (18 to 21 cm) Tail Length: Not visible Weight: 3.5 to 7 ounces (100 to 200 g) Life Cycle: Mating April to July; gestation 30 days, two to five young born; may breed twice yearly depending on locale Description: Peppery brown coat; buff underparts; short ears; stocky, egg-shaped body; no visible tail Conservation Status: Common |
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