Feb 1, 2025

All about ‘Pika’, an adorable animal that whistles and squeaks

Aakanksha Sharma

Pika pika pika!

Pika, a word that sounds extremely similar to ‘Pikachu’ is the name of an animal that is just as adorable as the cartoon Pikachu. Pikas are famous for their whistles and squeaks, and here we mention some facts about them.

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The Pika family

The Pika is a small, herbivorous mammal that is a close relative of rabbits and hares. They can jump, hop, and behave just like rabbits do, but are differentiated by their fur and colour.

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What do they look like?

Pikas are small and adorably cute. They look like round balls of fur, have short legs, rounded ears, button eyes, and a small but invisible tail. They are extremely furry which protects them from cold winds and climate of their habitats.

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Where are they found?

Pikas are found in rocky mountain regions of North America, Asia, and parts of Europe. They live in alpine areas which give them crevices and holes to hide in and protect themselves from danger.

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Their unique whistles and squeaks

Pikas are famous for their high-pitched calls, which sound like whistles and squeaks. Pikas usually produce their sound to warn others of danger, call to their fellows, and to protect themselves from bigger prey.

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Social nature

Although with the pictures available it might look like Pikas are always alone and prefer to remain solitary, they are actually pretty social creatures with special, vocal communication with their groups.

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Territorial nature

Pikas are also extremely territorial and whistle and squeak (produce sounds) when they feel their area is under threat. They live in colonies with other Pikas but are also very territorial of their personal dens.

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What do they eat?

Pikas are small herbivore animals that eat grass, herbs, flowers, and leaves. In fact, they also collect these for the winter months by making ‘haypiles’.

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Are they under threat?

While not all, some Pikas, especially the American Pikas, are under threat due to climate change and habitat loss. As the Pikas are mountain-dwelling, and we are losing the mountains to climate change, the Pika habitats are becoming a cause of concern.

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Thanks For Reading!

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