"Pika" comes from the Siberian word for this animal, "puka." Their fine long hair is reddish-brown in summer but much greyer in winter. They live on scree and on rocky slopes in mountainous areas, in boulder fields, in damp areas among coniferous trees and in dry Alpine meadows. A few burrowing species are native to open steppe land. It is the only pika found in Alaska. They have stocky bodies, large round ears, short legs, and almost no tail. Collared pikas are asocial animals and constantly chase away intruders to defend their territory. The Collared pika is a key species that is consumed by numerous predators (ermines, weasels, foxes, owls, eagles). CLIMATE AND HABITAT FACTORS AFFECTING AMERICAN PIKA POPULATIONS AND HABITAT USE IN THE NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE COMPLEX FROM 2009 THROUGH 2011 FINAL REPORT Jason E. Bruggeman, Ph.D. Beartooth Wildlife Research, LLC 700 Ninth Street, Farmington, Minnesota 55024 e-mail: jbruggeman@frontiernet.net; www.beartoothwildliferesearch.com Within a colony, individuals tend to occupy exclusive home ranges, but during breeding season, male and female ranges overlap. Females are responsible for the majority of parental care.

Two species are known in Canada; 18 worldwide. These animals are kleptoparasitic and steal food from one another. According to IUCN, the Collared pika is common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Most species live on rocky mountainsides, where numerous crevices are available for their shelter, although some pikas also construct crude burrows. Most species have thick fur, which comes in handy living in old mountain peaks. Other shrill calls may be made when sitting or moving around. The "collar" from which the Collared pika gets its name is a distinct grayish patch on its shoulder and neck, which is in definite contrast with the white fur on the chest and stomach.

Collared pikas impact grass and herbaceous plant species in their high elevation habitats. Northern pikas store food for winter and other animals who find these caches eat them during the cold months when it is usually hard to find food. The breeding season takes place in spring and depending on location may take place again in the summer. While there is no apparent concern for Collared pikas at this time, climate change could be a threat, as they are sensitive to high temperatures in their environment, and the high elevation habitats to which they are restricted are declining as a result of climate change. Despite their cuddly appearance, American pikasthe smallest members of the lagomorph groupare among North America's toughest animals. Of the 30 existing species of pika, it is one of only two which inhabit North America, along with the collared pika(O. collaris). A pika has fur-covered feet, but its toe pads are bare. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable. The American pika can be found throughout the mountains of western North America, from central British Columbia and Alberta in Canada to the US states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, and New Mexico. 2. Collared pika (O. collaris) is found in northern BC and throughout YT and Alaska. Collared pikas sit to call with their body hunched up and their nose pointed slightly into the air. They prefer to live at the edges of talus slopes, where there are meadows and areas of high-quality vegetation immediately nearby. Northern pikas vary in size and colouring across their extensive range. Pika is a common name for the smallest members of the order Lagomorpha, which also includes rabbits and hares. They are sexually mature where they are one year old. They live in a network of burrows which they make themselves and also use crevices in the rocks or subterranean runways. They will also eat low-lying vegetation such as lichen that is under the snow during the winter.