| Pika Collared or Northern is one of the few mouse families living in Alaska that the casual observer usually misses while hiking in rocky areas. We usually look for Arctic Ground Squirrels or Marmots, but few people ever see the elusive Rocky Rabbit. They are small mammals, only 5 ounces (140 grams), belonging to the Order Lagomorpha (Rabbits, hares, pikas, etc..) and you can spot their colonies in mountainous regions that have rock slides or talus slopes, with patches of vegetation near by. |
| Another way of locating a colony is listening for their short, shrill barks in the morning or dusk, since they are diurnal creatures. I was able to finally find a colony of Pikas while hiking at Polychrome Pass in Denali National Park, by hearing their cute calls one early morning. I heard a quick high pitched sound coming from a skree slope above me and spotted a large haystack pile next to an entrance of a small burrow. I climbed up the slope slowly and waited in front of the burrow till one cute female came out. She haughtily stared at me daring me to make off with her hay! |
| Northern Pikas have stocky bodies, short legs, and like rabbits 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 (see photo). Pikas have fur-covered feet, except for their toe pads, to keep them warm during the Arctic Winter. Their sharp, curved claws help them climb from rock to rock with ease. They are highly alert, possessing excellent vision and hearing. |
| Pikas do not hibernate and to survive a harsh Arctic winter they have developed an ingenious and unique haystacking behavior. They make several haystacks from clippings or pulling up stems or twigs, and expose them to sunlight to allow successive layers of hay to cure. The stacks can reach up to 2 ft high & 2 feet wide, which is quite large for a mammal that is usually only 2 to 3 inches in length. |
| The average life span for a pika is three years and females produce two litters between two to six each, within one summer. There are only 2 Pika species in North America, out of the 25 species located world wide, and they migrated over from Asia via the Bering land bridge, during the recent Ice Age. Collared Pika's habitat is only within Alaska and the Yukon territory. |
| Well, hopefully this information will help in finding the elusive Rocky Rabbit on one of your hikes in the intense and beautiful landscape of Alaska. |
| Where is that "Wasky Wabbit"? |
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| Article by Lesa Hollen (Alaskan Rose) |
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| Pika Info: |
| Alaska Department of Fish & Game Wildlife Notebook Series, © Roger Smith 1994. Visit their site at www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/notehome.php |
| Additional Photos and Info are located at Pika Works. Please visit their web site at: www.pikaworks.com/pikas/index.html |
| Sound Credit: Doug Von Gausig © 1997-2003 at Naturesongs. Please visit their web site at: www.naturesongs.com |
| Habitat Info: MSW Scientific Names, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History © 1993. Please visit their site at nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/ |
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