EEP!
You’ve likely heard this call hiking past boulder fields in the Cascade mountains. You may have even seen the critter that made the sound – the American pika, a small, vocal, rabbit-like mammal often found with its mouth full of grasses it has collected to store for winter.
Because of their mountain habitats and sensitivity to high temperatures, pikas may be vulnerable to climate change. Monitoring pikas is one of the ways citizen scientists are contributing to their conservation, and it’s a way you can help too!
Listen in on Dr. Johanna “Pika Jo” Varner’s presentation on these adorable critters and how you can help contribute to their survival. Dr. Varner helped start the Cascades Pika Watch science program at the Oregon Zoo, and continues to serve as its science advisor and training lead. Cascades Pika Watch engages volunteers to locate and map pikas across the Pacific Northwest, with a special focus on low-elevation habitats in the Columbia River Gorge and monitoring the recovery of this special population following the Eagle Creek Fire.
