A small member of the rabbit family with short legs and soft, silky fur. North American pikas have individual territories on the rocky mountains of North America and spend much of the summer gathering hay for the winter.

Life span
Up to 6 years.

Statistics
12-28cm long with an almost invisible tail.

Physical description
Pikas are small lagomorphs - relatives of the rabbits and hares. They have long silky hair, short legs and relatively large rounded ears. The North American pika is a buff colour.

Distribution
North West America.

Habitat
Rocky mountains and high grasslands.

Diet
Grass and leaves.

Behaviour
North American pikas defend individual territories, usually adjacent to an individual of the opposite sex. They are adapted to cold temperatures and die if exposed to 25 degrees centigrade for even half an hour. On high mountains they can remain active throughout the day but lower down where it is warmer they can only come out of their nests between rocks in the evenings and mornings. During the summer they spend much of their time storing grass as hay for food during the winter, and usually over-harvest, creating large hay piles. Like rabbits they produce two kinds of dropping - one is soft and rich in vitamin B and is eaten to aid further digestion of cellulose. The other is dry and hard.

Reproduction
Males and females on adjacent territories call to each other and form a pair bond. The females can produce two litters per year, but usually only one leads to successful weaning. The litter size is also very small, only 1-5 young after 1 month's gestation. The juveniles often settle near to their parents, which can lead to inbreeding.

Conservation status
Not threatened.

Voice
Whistling calls during courtship and in alarm.