California Pika Gallery

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American Pika by A. Tshcherbina
Pika Photo
American Pika by A. Tshcherbina
Pika Photo
American Pika by A. Tshcherbina
 

The image gallery below illustrates environments used by American pika in the eastern Sierra Nevada, California. Primary habitat includes mid montane to high alpine talus fields of granitic, metamorphic, carbonate, and volcanic substrates. Pika are generalist herbivores and forage in plant communities adjacent to talus fields. These plant communities are highly diverse, ranging from sagebrush shrubland and rangeland grass communities through montane forests to alpine meadows. Similar to other Lagomorphs, pika do not hibernate. During late summer, they collect vegetation from talus forefields and store them in "haypiles", located near the base of talus fields. Haypile diversity reflects the plants growing near the talus.

Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat
Pika Habitat