![]() ![]() Genetic diversity, occupancy, and distribution are relatively high in the park suggesting resiliency into the future with adaptive management.In Rocky Mountain National Park, factors related to cold stress, and especially less snow cover, appear to be the greatest threat to pikas.Although declines have been rare in Rocky Mountain National Park to date, the possibility of extirpation exists. Pikas are vulnerable to loss of habitat due to climate change.Predators are coyotes, martens, weasels, and hawks.Eat grasses, sedges, lichen, and conifer twigs.Food gathered throughout the summer and “haystacks” built and defended for winter food.After one month, the babies leave their mothers to establish their own dens, even though they don’t fully mature for another few months.Females may have two litters a year and raise their young alone.Gestation period is 30 days and litters of two to six hairless, blind infants are born.Breeding season is in late May or early June while snow is still on the ground.A high-pitched "eek" warns other pikas of predators.Vocal animals that use both calls and songs to communicate and protect their territories. ![]()
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