Collared Pika | NWT Species at Risk

Collared Pika

Ochotona collaris

NWT List of Species at Risk:

No status

NWT SARC Assessment:

Not assessed

Federal Species at Risk Act list:

Special Concern

COSEWIC Assessment:

Special Concern

NWT General Status Rank:

Sensitive

Description:

The Collared Pika is a small, solitary member of a group of species that includes rabbits and hares. The Collared Pika has small, round ears, a white underbelly, and a distinctive 'collar' of light grey fur around its neck.

Weight: 130 to 185 g (4.5 to 6.5 oz)
Length: 178 to 198 mm (7 to 7.5 in)

Report Collared Pika sightings to WILDLIFEOBS@gov.nt.ca

Distribution

Collared Pikas primarily live in the mountain regions of Alaska, Yukon and northern British Columbia. Their range in the NWT extends into the Richardson Mountains west of Aklavik and throughout the Mackenzie Mountains in the Dehcho and Sahtu regions.

The Mackenzie River in the NWT likely acts as a barrier on the eastern edge of its range. The Liard River valley may form a barrier between the Collared Pika and the more southern American Pika.

Range map information

Habitat and biology

Collared Pikas mostly live in cool and dry mountain boulder fields, or talus, at elevations above the treeline. The boulders help shelter the pikas from weather and predators. Medium to large rocks (greater than 30 cm), with not many smaller rocks mixed in, provide spaces for pikas to live between them. Suitable boulder fields must have alpine meadows nearby where pikas can find food.

Pikas do not hibernate during the winter and survive using stored food. Pikas spend long hours harvesting herbs and grasses, making hay-piles to supply food during the winter.

Pikas defend individual territories of about 15 to 25 m radius.

Female pikas have only a 30 day gestation period, give birth to 3 to 4 offspring, and usually do not live longer than 4 years.

Population size and trends

There is not very much information on population size and trend of Collared Pika.

Threats

The greatest threat to the Collared Pika is climate change. Potential impacts include loss of suitable alpine habitat as well as changes in precipitation patterns and warmer summer temperatures that could cause stress or mortality. There is uncertainty about how much Collared Pikas in the NWT will be affected.

Naturally fragmented habitat and poor dispersal ability could make it harder for the Collared Pika to adapt to its changing environment.

Protection and recovery

COSEWIC assessed Collared Pika as a species of Special Concern in Canada in 2011, and it was listed as Special Concern under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2017.

Area:

Dehcho, Gwich'in, Inuvialuit, Sahtú