The pika is a small, charismatic mammal of the mountains, often recognized by its distinct, rounded ears and high-pitched vocalizations. Averaging seven to eight inches in length, they are covered in a dense, soft coat of fur that provides insulation in their cold habitats. Pikas are active during the day and do not hibernate, instead relying on stored food to survive the long, cold winters. Their sharp, squeaking call, sometimes described as an “eep,” serves as an alarm signal to others in the colony.
What Baby Pikas Are Called
Young pikas are most commonly referred to as “kits” or “kittens,” following the established naming convention for other members of their biological order. This terminology is shared with their relatives, the rabbits and hares, which also produce young known as kits. While some non-scientific sources might informally call them “pups,” “kit” is the standard and most accurate term used in biology for the offspring.
Classification and Natural Habitat
Pikas belong to the family Ochotonidae, which is part of the Order Lagomorpha, a classification they share with rabbits and hares. This placement means they are not rodents, despite their small size, as lagomorphs possess a second set of small, peg-like incisor teeth that distinguish them. The approximately 34 species of pikas are broadly divided into North American species, such as the American pika, and numerous Eurasian species. Most species are rock-dwellers, making their homes among talus slopes—piles of broken rock debris found on steep mountainsides. This habitat preference is driven by their intolerance for heat, making the cool, high-altitude environment of alpine and subalpine zones, often above 8,000 feet, necessary for their survival. Rock crevices provide shelter from predators and the harsh elements, and offer shade, as pikas can die from overheating at temperatures above 77°F.
Raising Pika Young
The reproductive cycle of the female pika is adapted to the short warm season of the high-altitude environment, with breeding typically commencing in early spring. Pikas are induced ovulators, meaning the act of mating stimulates the release of eggs. The gestation period lasts approximately 30 days. The female gives birth to a small litter, usually consisting of two to five kits. Kits are born in an altricial state, meaning they are blind, nearly hairless, and completely dependent on their mother for warmth and nourishment.
Newborn kits weigh only about 10 to 12 grams, but their development is rapid; their eyes typically open around nine days after birth. Parental care is provided exclusively by the mother, who makes short, frequent trips to nurse the young. Kits are weaned and begin eating solid food around 28 days old, becoming functionally independent within four weeks of birth. This compressed timeframe allows the young to develop quickly enough to begin gathering their own food and establishing a territory before the onset of winter.