Much of the range is vigorously defended as a territory. During the spring breeding season, however, males tend to enlarge their territories to include that of at least one female, and for a while the pair seems to defend a joint territory against other animals. In the meantime, juveniles are weaned and expelled by their mothers and then disperse among the population in an effort to secure space for themselves. Territoriality reaches peak intensity at the height of the haying season, and defended areas seem to center on the main food caches of individuals. The distance between haypiles averages about 25-30 meters.
Chases occur constantly, and animals examined in the field often show evidence of severe wounds.
Individuals scent-mark their territories by rubbing cheek glands against rocks. Ochotona breeds twice a year, in the spring and summer, and most populations produce two or more litters per year. In O. daurica litter size ranges from 1 to 12, and young females reach sexual maturity in as little as 21 days. In O. pallasi the number of young is 1-12, there are at least 3 litters per year, and some juveniles reach maturity in their first summer of life. Litter size in O. princeps averages 3, and young do not breed until their second year.