Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Ochotona princeps
Talus slopes above treeline in the western mountains. The hay pile is the sign people find. Tiny tracks, rarely seen clearly in rock.
What does a american pika look like?
Fist-sized, no visible tail, round ears. Not a young rabbit.
What do american pika tracks look like?
Tracks are a poor clue on rock. Look for the hay pile and the pellets in the talus.
- Tiny tracks, rarely seen clearly in rock
- Round pellets about pea-sized, left in the rocks
- Hay piles: stacks of cut plants curing under a boulder
- A short-eared, rabbit-like animal if seen
- High, sharp call
What does american pika poop look like?
Small round pellets in the rocks beside a hay pile. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Talus slopes above treeline in the western mountains. The hay pile is the sign people find. Typical places: field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Eastern cottontail identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you know a pika is there if you do not see it?
A hay pile of cut stems under a rock, small round pellets, and a high call on a talus slope.
How to tell a american pika from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Eastern cottontail. Two long hind feet side by side, two small front feet staggered. Brown-gray rabbit, white cotton tail, shorter ears than a jackrabbit.
American pika field marks
- Tiny tracks, rarely seen clearly in rock
- Round pellets about pea-sized, left in the rocks
- Hay piles: stacks of cut plants curing under a boulder
- A short-eared, rabbit-like animal if seen
Where the sign shows up
Talus slopes above treeline in the western mountains. The hay pile is the sign people find. Typical places: field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
Tracks are a poor clue on rock. Look for the hay pile and the pellets in the talus. Small round pellets in the rocks beside a hay pile.
Common questions
How do you know a pika is there if you do not see it?
A hay pile of cut stems under a rock, small round pellets, and a high call on a talus slope.