American Pika
American PikaAmerican PikaAmerican PikaAmerican Pika

American Pika

Ochotona princeps

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Banff National Park
310 Verified records at Banff National Park
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small, herbivorous mammal of the family Ochotonidae, closely related to rabbits and hares (order Lagomorpha). It is native to the mountainous regions of western North America, typically inhabiting rocky slopes and talus fields at or above the tree line. Unlike most mammals of similar size, the American pika is diurnal, being active primarily during the day. It employs two distinct foraging strategies: directly consuming vegetation or gathering and storing plant materials in "haypiles" to sustain itself through the winter months, a behavior known as haying. Pikas are vocal animals, using a variety of calls and songs both to warn of approaching predators and during the breeding season. Predators of the American pika include coyotes, martens, and hawks. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a American Pika sighting in Banff National Park, based on 310 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Banff National Park

Snowshoe Hare
LC

Snowshoe Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus americanus

10–20% · With luck
Mountain Cottontail
LC

Mountain Cottontail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sylvilagus nuttallii

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
20–30
Jun
30–40
Jul
50–60
Aug
60–70
Sep
30–40
Oct
<5
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
2 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
3 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
4 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
5 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
6 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
7 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
8 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
9 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a American Pika in Banff National Park?

About 37% of wildlife watchers report a American Pika sighting in Banff National Park, based on 310 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see American Pika in Banff National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for American Pika in Banff National Park in our monthly data.

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