High in the alpine we sometimes hear the call of the “whistling hare,” (the pika). It is part of the rabbit family, with short, legs, rounded ears, and no tail. They are herbivores which feed on various types of vegetation at higher altitudes.

We usually see them in rockpiles and talus slopes, but there are burrowing types too. They bring food materials into their burrows for storage. They don’t hibernate so they are busy in the fall creating a stockpile for the long, cold winter. If the haypile runs low, it will forage for lichens around the fringes of rocks.

The pika is mainly busy during the day, feeding, storing food, guarding its horde, and watching for predators. It makes a “bleating” sound to warn of intruders. Pikas mate about a month before the spring melt and females have 2-4 offspring, which are weaned for about a month before they set off on their own, reaching full size in about 3 months.

We enjoy seeing them in the alpine on our summer hikes.

Pika