The tiny architect building haystacks to survive the Alaskan winter
In short: While many mammals sleep through the freeze, the collared pika stays active. To survive nearly nine months buried under snow, this small lagomorph meticulously harvests and dries a specialized pantry of vegetation to ensure its survival in the subnivean realm.
The collared pika (genus Ochotona) is a small lagomorph, making it a relative of the rabbit rather than a rodent. Found in isolated populations across Alaska and Canada, these animals face extreme conditions. Unlike many other Alaskan mammals that hibernate to conserve energy, the collared pika remains active throughout the winter, relying on a sophisticated survival strategy involving both environmental insulation and careful food management. These creatures inhabit rocky crevices and talus slopes. Their unique biology distinguishes them from rodents. These animals are often found clambering around snowy rockslides. Their distinctive appearance resembles a mountain gerbil with small, rounded ears.
This survival strategy relies on the construction of haypiles. During the summer and autumn, the pika harvests grasses, leaves, and flowers, building large mounds of green plants near its home. These stores are not simply dumped; the pika attends to them with meticulous care, rearranging leaves and adjusting placement to ensure the vegetation dries correctly for long-term preservation.
Nutritional selection is critical to this process. The pika chooses plants based on their quality and how well they store over time. For example, they may avoid woody shrubs like blueberry in favor of plants that have a low tannin concentration after drying, such as willow or various flowers. Such meticulous selection ensures the pika can eat amidst warmth and ease using its stored provisions during winter. This careful curation allows them to feed comfortably within their burrows. Once spring arrives, the melting snow reveals the rocks once again. In the spring, females give birth to hairless, blind pups within their underground nests. These young offspring depend entirely on their mothers for protection and nourishment for several weeks.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How the Collared Pika Prepares For Winter | Wild Alaska | BBC Earth
- Also: A Collared Pika’s Winter, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
- Also: Pika observed foraging its winter stockpile and giving birth in its burrow | Britannica
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