American Pika

mountain animals · adorable herbivores · alpine life · winter survival

Lives way up high. American pikas make their homes in the rocky mountains of western North America, usually above where trees can grow. They love living on steep, rocky slopes where they can scramble around easily.

Daytime explorer. Unlike many small animals that hide during the day, pikas are actually awake and active in daylight hours. You might spot one scurrying across rocks during the sunny parts of the day.

Master haypile builder. Before winter arrives, pikas gather plants and pile them up like tiny haystacks to eat when snow covers everything. A single pika might gather tons of plants to make sure it has enough food to survive the long, cold winter.

Rabbit family member. Pikas are small relatives of rabbits and hares, belonging to the same family called Ochotonidae. Even though they look more like hamsters, they're actually part of the rabbit group.

Picky eaters. Pikas spend their days munching on grasses, flowers, and other plants they find on the mountain. They eat some right away and save the rest in their famous haypiles for later.