Species › Mammals › Collared Pika

Collared Pika

Ochotona collaris

UncommonMammal
Illustration of Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris)

The Collared Pika is an Alaskan relative of the American Pika, distinguished by a gray patch on its neck and shoulders and its subarctic talus-slope habitat. Like its cousin, it does not hibernate and spends the brief Arctic summer harvesting and curing haypiles beneath rocks. Collared pikas are known for their remarkably complex alarm-call system, with different calls for avian versus terrestrial predators.

Habitat
Alpine talus slopes and rocky outcrops of Alaska and Yukon
Diet
Grasses, forbs, mosses, and dried haypiles
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Collared Pika

The best time to see a Collared Pika is July–August, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 238 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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