Northern pika facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern pika |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ochotona
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| Species: |
hyperborea
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| Northern pika range | |
The northern pika (Ochotona hyperborea) is a small, furry animal. It looks a bit like a rabbit but has shorter, rounder ears. You can find these cute creatures living in the mountains across northern Asia. Their home stretches from the Ural Mountains all the way to northern Japan. It also goes down through places like Mongolia, Manchuria, and northern Korea.
Northern pikas are usually about 12.5 to 18.5 centimeters long. This is roughly the size of a large smartphone. They have tiny tails, only about 0.5 to 1.2 centimeters long! Their fur changes color with the seasons. It's reddish-brown in summer and turns grayish-brown in winter. They are known for collecting plants and drying them into "hay piles." They eat these piles during the cold winter months.
Contents
What is a Northern Pika?
The northern pika is a small animal. It grows to be about 12.5 to 18.5 centimeters long. Its tail is very short, only 0.5 to 1.2 centimeters. It has small, round ears and short legs. Each foot has five toes, and their paw soles are furry.
Their fur is fine and long. It is reddish-brown in summer. In winter, it becomes much greyer. Their belly is white with a hint of reddish-brown. Male and female pikas look alike. Their size and color can change a bit depending on where they live.
Where Northern Pikas Live
The northern pika lives in the mountains of eastern Asia. Their home stretches from the Urals and the Putorana Plateau. It goes through eastern and southern Siberia, including Sakhalin Island. It also reaches northern Mongolia, Manchuria, North Korea, and Hokkaido.
You can find them on rocky slopes in mountains. They live in areas with loose rocks, in boulder fields, and in damp places among coniferous trees. They also live in dry Alpine meadows. In large rocky areas, they often stay near the edge. They dig shallow burrows in the grass nearby. They live at heights between 400 and 2000 meters. They usually live higher up in the mountains than the Alpine pika.
Daily Life and Habits
Northern pikas are most active around dawn and dusk. This is when they mostly look for food. They have a network of burrows underground. They also use cracks in rocks and hidden tunnels. Each underground network has many entrances. Paths connect these entrances to their feeding spots on the surface.
When they are above ground, they move around, eat, groom themselves, or sit still. They often sit on a high spot, like a rock. They usually move by making short jumps. But they can also walk and run. They are very good at climbing over rocks and up cliffs. They can stand on their back legs for a short time. They do this when fighting or gathering food. They can even climb awkwardly in small pine trees.
What Northern Pikas Eat
Northern pikas are herbivores. This means they only eat plants. They eat different plant parts like grasses, twigs, needles, stems, and leaves. They gather food and carry it back to their eating spots. They use only their mouth to carry the food. These eating spots are usually near a burrow entrance.
When they eat stems and twigs, they sit down. They start gnawing from the bottom and work their way up. If they get scared while eating, they might run to their hole. Sometimes they even carry the food with them. Or they might stay still and alert until the danger passes.
They also collect green plants and let them dry. Then they store them in hidden piles. Scientists have found that pikas choose plants that are very nutritious. They don't just pick the most common plants. They avoid evergreen plants that grow in clumps. These "hay piles" are kept in dry places. They eat them during the winter. Northern pikas do not hibernate. They can tunnel under the snow to reach their food piles. They can also find twigs and other plants still available.
Grooming and Communication
Northern pikas spend time grooming their fur. They use their front paws to clean their head and face. They scratch their head and front body with their back feet. This helps clean their fur and remove tiny bugs. It might also help spread scents from their glands onto their paws. This helps them mark their territory.
They spend a lot of time resting in special spots. These are usually on a prominent rock or tree stump. They stay within a few meters of a hole for up to ten minutes. Sometimes, the pika looks like it's sunbathing. It might turn its head towards the sun. Other times, it seems alert and watching. If a predator or person gets too close, the pika will scurry into its hole. It makes a sharp warning cry, like "Kitz!" Sometimes, a pika will call from a high spot to other pikas. Other pikas might answer back. They also make other shrill calls when sitting or moving. What these calls mean is not fully known.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Both male and female northern pikas protect their own territories. They mark the edges of their territory. They do this by rubbing a gland on their cheek on a rock. Or they use scent from their urine. A territory is usually home to a pair of pikas. But males sometimes visit other territories.
The number of pikas in an area is usually steady. They typically have one litter of babies each year. A litter can have up to nine babies, but usually it's three or four. In warmer, more southerly areas, they might have two smaller litters. Pregnancy lasts about 28 days. Young pikas stay in their parents' territory for a while. Then they move to find their own space. We don't know exactly when they become old enough to have their own babies. They usually live for about three years.
Conservation Status
The northern pika lives in a very large area. It is common in suitable places within that area. The number of pikas is quite stable. No major threats have been found for them. Because of this, the IUCN lists the species as "Least Concern" on its Red List of Threatened Species. This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
