Mammals on Monday: American Pika
Nov 30th, 2009 by Kevin, FCD
American Pika, Jasper National Park, Alberta (click image to view larger)
I found this little guy in a rocky outcrop near the north shore of Medicine Lake in Canada’s beautiful Jasper National Park. It was early October and much of the time this American Pika (Ochotona princeps) was spending much of its time gathering up grasses and putting them in piles to dry out before the arrival of Winter. Though at first glance they may look like rodents, they are actually members of the order Lagomorpha (rabbits) and a colloquial name for them in many regions is “Rock Rabbit.”
Their habitat is at or above treeline with dens in openings in piles of rocks. Populations are declining and pikas are under consideration for Endangered Species status in the United States. Because they are well adapted to cool climates, they could be one of the first casualties of Global Warming.
The ears do look a little mouse-like, but the nose is rabbit for sure. Very cute!
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