The pika is a small mammal belonging to the order Lagomorpha, making it a close relative of rabbits and hares, though it is often mistaken for a rodent. This tiny creature has drawn attention due to its specialized nature and vulnerability in a rapidly changing world. Determining whether the pika is endangered is complex, requiring an understanding of its biology, the specific threats it faces, and the varied conservation status of its populations across North America.
Defining the Pika: Biology and Behavior
The North American pika is a small, stout animal, typically measuring between six and eight inches in length and weighing only four to six ounces. It possesses characteristically large, rounded ears and lacks a visible external tail, giving it a distinctive egg-shaped appearance. Pikas are diurnal and maintain a high basal metabolic rate, which helps them survive in their naturally cold, high-altitude environment.
Pikas are famous for “haying,” a unique behavior necessary because they do not hibernate during the winter months. Throughout the short alpine summer, they diligently collect large quantities of grass, wildflowers, and sedges from adjacent meadows. They cure this vegetation in small piles, or “haypiles,” under the sun before storing it deep within their rocky dens to sustain them through the long, cold winter. An individual pika can make over a hundred trips a day, hoarding nearly 65 pounds of vegetation.
Current Conservation Status of Key Species
The official conservation status of the pika depends heavily on the specific species and its geographic location. The most widely distributed species, the American Pika (Ochotona princeps), is currently listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This broad designation reflects the species’ overall stability across the northern parts of its range, particularly in the Rocky Mountains and Cascade ranges.
Despite the overall “Least Concern” status, the federal status is complicated by significant regional declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declined to list the American Pika as threatened or endangered in 2010, yet many populations in the Great Basin area have been extirpated. Furthermore, eight of the American Pika’s 36 recognized subspecies are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, highlighting the localized nature of the threat.
The Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris), which lives farther north in Alaska and the Yukon, is also listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN. However, Canadian authorities have designated the Collared Pika as a species of “Special Concern” under the Species at Risk Act due to its sensitivity to climate variation.
Unique Vulnerability to High Temperatures
The high metabolism and thick fur that allow the pika to thrive in cold climates make it uniquely susceptible to even moderate heat exposure. Pikas are considered cold-adapted specialists, and their resting body temperature is only a few degrees below their lethal threshold. Exposure to temperatures above 75°F (24°C) can induce lethal thermal stress within a few hours.
This extreme sensitivity drives localized population declines. As air temperatures rise, pikas are forced to reduce their surface activity, limiting the time they can spend foraging and “haying.” This behavioral shift prevents them from gathering necessary winter food stores, which can lead to starvation even if they avoid direct heat death.
To cope, pikas retreat into the cooler microclimates deep within the rock piles. However, this refuge is temporary and does not solve the problem of reduced foraging time.
The loss of insulating snowpack also contributes to the pika’s vulnerability. A deep layer of snow acts as a blanket, protecting the pika from freezing winter temperatures and wind chill. Without this consistent cover, pikas are forced to burn through their limited haypiles faster to regulate their body temperature, increasing the risk of starvation before spring arrives.
Specific Habitat and Geographic Distribution
Pikas are restricted to a very specific ecological niche in the alpine and subalpine zones of North America. Their habitat is defined by the presence of talus slopes, which are collections of broken rock and angular debris found near mountain meadows.
The talus slopes create a cool, stable microclimate beneath the surface, offering pikas a retreat from the harsh conditions of both summer heat and winter cold. These rock fields also provide shelter from predators and function as a natural form of insulation.
The American Pika’s range extends throughout the mountainous regions of the western United States, including the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, and the Rocky Mountains, often at elevations between 8,000 and 13,000 feet. The Collared Pika inhabits the northern, high-latitude mountains of Alaska, the Yukon, and British Columbia.