Large Eyed Pika Introduction

Pikas are small, rabbit-like mammals that live in rocky, mountainous regions all over the world. The large-eared pika is native to central Asia, where it makes its home in the rock fields in the mountains of Afghanistan, Tibet, Nepal, and surrounding countries. They are grayish brown in color, with short legs, a round body, and no visible tail. Like rabbits, pikas are mountainous , and they share many characteristics with their long-eared cousins.  As their name suggests, large-eared pikas have the largest ears in the Pika family. They use these ears to stay alert for predators, as hiding is their best defense mechanism.  Pikas love the cold, and they are well suited to live on rocky mountain sides high up in the Himalayas. In fact, pikas require cold temperatures to live. They can even die if they are exposed to warmer temperatures. The natural rock crevices in these regions are the perfect home for the large-eared pika, and they build their nests in these holes for shelter. These nests are made of plant matter and lined with soft fur, providing a comfortable shelter and keeping them out of sight. If the rock crevice is too small, predators may be able to find the large-eared pika. Pikas are diurnal, spending most of the day above ground looking for food. Pikas are not picky eaters. In general, they will consume all available plant-based foods in their area. These foods could be twigs, flowers, grasses, and other hearty mountain-growing vegetation. Because they do not hibernate, large-eared pikas spend much of the spring and summer months gathering food for the winter. Vegetation is stored in heaps hidden between rocks and stones. These piles of food are defended by the pikas, and large-eared pikas even have specific sounds and vocalizations related to haypile defense. Even with this food storage, pikas often grow hungry during the winter months, and early spring is a period of feeding frenzy—with each pika trying to make up for lost time. Because humans have not encroached on their habitat a great deal, large-eared pika populations are relatively stable.