Are American pikas domestic or wild?

Despite their cuddly appearance, American pikas—the smallest members of the lagomorph group—are among North America's toughest animals. Pikas are one of the few mammals in the lower 48 states that can survive their entire lives in alpine terrain, the windswept no-man's-land above tree line. read more

Habitat: Pikas are native to cold climates in Asia, North America, and parts of Eastern Europe. They typically can be found on rocky mountainsides. A Pikachu in the wild is really only found in tall grass, often near a forest. No contest here. Advantage: pika. Longevity: Many pikas can live up to seven years. read more

For the first time a new study suggests that when exposed in their natural ecosystem, wild pikas (a species closely related to rabbits) are mammalian hosts of H5N1 subtype avian influenza viruses and may also be a source of transmission to domestic mammals and humans. read more