Pikas of the Peaks
Written by: Michelle Witte, aka “Roots”
Originally written for: The Mountain Ear
“Eeekk, eeek” hearing this high pitched alarm call from our small mammal friends, the American Pika (Ochotona princeps) from nearby talus fields is a common joy of many high alpine hikers and enthusiasts of the Rocky Mountains. The beloved Pika is known for it’s high elevation lifestyle that comes with some pretty great perks. American Pikas may look like high elevation mountain hamsters but they are actually related to rabbits and hares, not rodents, as part of the lagomorph family of mammals. The American Pika is one of only two species out of 37 Pika species worldwide that are found in North America, with the great majority of Pika species being found in Asia, namely in the Himmilayn mountains. They are small, usually only 6-9 inches in length with grey to brown fun and very adorable rounded ears.
These tiny creatures are built tough and come equipped with several adaptations for life above treeline. They’re entire life is constructed in a way that works with the extreme climates and conditions of the alpine. Every summer these busy little socialites get to work foraging the talus fields for well-adapted high elevation plants and other organisms. Many nibbling on grasses, flowers, young stems, and lichens. Pikas will collect resources to cache in the talus colony for later seasons when food is next to impossible to find, this process is called “haying”. They are so talented at storing food throughout summer and fall, they do not hibernate in the winter, instead relying on their food caches, and grassy insulation of their rocky burrows to survive.
Pikas worldwide are an indicator species of mountain ecosystems, these furry little ones are extremely sensitive to heat and changes to the climate. Any loss of our Pika population would be a large indication of the overall well being of our high alpine life zones. Pikas rely on the colder temperatures of the high alpine to survive, if temperatures rise above 70 degrees Fahrenheit they are likely to perish. As temperatures rise as a result of the climate crisis they are at risk of losing their habitat with nowhere else to go. Increasing temperatures and less snowpack in the Rockies each winter can and will have negative impacts on our Pikas and several other beloved species.
Don’t worry too much, there are several ways we can take action now to protect Pikas and our pristine mountain peaks before it is too late! One fun local way to get involved is to team up with the Front Range Pika Project in partnership with Rocky Mountain Wild and the Denver Zoo. The Front Range Pika Project is a community science project to survey Pika populations throughout the state. You can volunteer to hike to a talus field to count Pikas and observe their home from a respectful distance. What an amazing way to enjoy local mountain trails and help our wildlife through research! Wild Bear Nature Center will be hosting a presentation on Pikas with Rocky Mountain Wild on May 16th, visit our website to learn more on how to get involved. As always, other ways to not only help Pikas but all of Earth’s creatures is to make daily choices with the planet in mind. Conserving water and other resources, the three R’s of reduce, reuse, and recycle, voting and getting involved with local efforts are just a few of the things we as individuals and a community can do.
With the snow beginning to melt and more high elevation trails opening up, see if you can head out and spot or hear one of the most charismatic species the Rocky Mountains host. If you’re lucky enough to spot a Pika, imagine what their life in the high alpine must be like and how you’d try to adapt to the incoming heat!