Mammals
Collared Pika
Ochotona collaris · also called collared pikas
Darting between gaps in a rocky talus slope, a collared pika carries yet another mouthful of vegetation toward its carefully drying hay pile, racing against the short alpine summer to build up enough stored food to survive a winter it will spend fully awake.
Overview
The collared pika, Ochotona collaris, is a small, hay-gathering herbivore native to alpine mountain habitat across a range of Alaska, Yukon, and northwestern British Columbia. Its remarkable non-hibernating winter survival strategy, dependence on rocky talus slopes, and sensitivity to rising temperatures make it one of the more ecologically vulnerable small mammals found in the far northwestern mountains.
Surviving winter wide awake
While many small alpine mammals simply sleep through the harshest months, the collared pika instead stays active all winter, betting its survival entirely on how much hay it managed to gather and dry during the brief window of summer.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and stable across suitable alpine talus habitat throughout Alaska, Yukon, and northwestern British Columbia, though closely monitored for sensitivity to rising temperatures.
Collared Pika: common questions
Why does the collared pika gather such a large hay pile?
This species spends much of the short alpine summer gathering vegetation and drying it into a hay pile stored beneath rocks, a critical food reserve that sustains it through the winter months since it does not hibernate and needs a reliable food source when fresh vegetation is unavailable.
Does the collared pika hibernate in winter?
No, unlike many small mammals that hibernate through the coldest months, this species remains active beneath the insulating layer of rocks and snow throughout winter, relying on its stored hay pile for food rather than entering a dormant state.
Why is the collared pika considered sensitive to climate change?
This species depends on cool, high-elevation alpine conditions and has limited ability to relocate if temperatures in its rocky talus habitat rise significantly, since suitable cooler habitat at even higher elevations may simply not exist nearby, making it a species researchers watch closely for climate-related population changes.
How does the collared pika defend its territory?
This species produces a short, high-pitched call used to defend its individual territory within a talus slope from neighbouring pikas, a vocal signal that helps maintain spacing between individuals competing for limited rocky shelter and foraging area.