Fauna
Mammal

American Pika

Ochotona princeps

Also known as Little Chief Hare, Rock Rabbit, Whistling Hare

American pikas are high-elevation specialists that spend summer days busily curing grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs on sun-warmed talus slopes to build winter haypiles. Their high metabolic rate leaves them exceptionally sensitive to summer heat, driving them deep into cool interstitial spaces between boulders during midday temperature peaks. Sharp, high-pitched alarm calls reverberate across alpine meadows whenever raptors or stoats appear overhead.

AlpineDiurnalHerbivore
American Pika reference1 / 7
Matthew.j.mcgraw / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAlpine Grasses, Wildflowers, Sedges
Predators
  • Ermine
  • Golden Eagle
  • Coyote
ThreatsClimate change, rising summer temperatures, and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsAlpine talus slopes, rock slides, and mountain fields
Life span3–7 years
Classification
  1. OrderLagomorpha
  2. FamilyOchotonidae
  3. GenusOchotona
  4. SpeciesOchotona princeps
Range & activity
Native
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for small, egg-shaped brownish mammals with large rounded ears scurrying along high-altitude rock slides.
Support conservation
Remain on designated alpine trails and observe quietly to avoid triggering stress in hot weather.
Responsible observation
  • Listen Carefully: Scan rocky slopes when you hear a sharp, metallic eep sound.
  • Watch from Afar: Use binoculars near talus fields to view them gathering food without causing stress.
  • Stay on Trails: Avoid scrambling over alpine rock slides to preserve fragile pika haypiles.
Related species
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Alpine Heights

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