Finding Pikas

After more than two hours of hiking, a group of volunteers stops to take a break. They’re at an elevation of about 10,000 feet. They look out at the amazing view of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Then it’s time to get to work. The group is on the hunt for a small hamster-like mammal called the American pika. And they’re doing it for science.

Back in 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considered adding the American pika to the endangered species list. But there wasn’t enough information about how many pikas there are to make a decision. So the Denver Zoo teamed up with the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Wild to find out. They started the Colorado Pika Project to collect data on the species.

A group of volunteers stops to take a break. They’ve been hiking for two hours. Now they are 10,000 feet above sea level. They look out at the amazing view. Then it’s time to get to work. The group is in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. They’re on the hunt for a small hamster-like mammal. It’s called the American pika.

In 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considered adding the American pika to the endangered species list. But they couldn’t make a decision. There wasn’t enough information about how many pikas there are. So the Denver Zoo teamed up with the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Wild to find out. They started the Colorado Pika Project to collect data on the species.

Now 400 volunteers ages 8 to 80 join the Colorado Pika Project each summer. They visit 186 sites across the state to gather information about the animals and where they live.

Now 400 volunteers join the Colorado Pika Project each summer. These volunteers can be as young as 8 years old or as old as 80. They visit 186 sites across the state to gather information about American pikas and where they live.

American pikas may be tiny, but they’re also tough—and tough to spot! Their short, stout bodies and thick fur help them survive on cold, windy mountaintops. They have the perfect camouflage to blend in with their surroundings. Their black-and-brown color hides them easily against the rock faces and cliffs where they live. So volunteers have to get creative to find evidence of pikas nearby.

Luckily, pikas are social animals that live in colonies. That means they make a lot of noise. Volunteers can listen for the high-pitched, squeaky calls pikas make to alert each other to predators, protect their territory, and find mates.

American pikas are tiny. But they’re also tough—and tough to spot! They have short, stout bodies and thick fur. This helps them survive on cold, windy mountaintops. They also have the perfect camouflage to blend in with their surroundings. Their fur is black and brown. This color helps them hide against the rocky cliffs where they live. Volunteers have to get creative to find evidence of pikas nearby.

Luckily, pikas live together in colonies. They make a lot of noise. Volunteers can listen for their high-pitched, squeaky calls. Pikas make these sounds to alert each other to predators and protect their territory. They also call to find mates.

In areas where pikas are present, volunteers can find hay piles on the slopes. Unlike other cold-dwelling creatures, pikas don’t hibernate in the winter. So they save up food in the summer to keep themselves fed all year long. The critters collect wildflowers and grasses and let them dry in the sun. That way, the food won’t mold. Then they store the dried plants in their den before winter comes.

Volunteers with the Colorado Pika Project also look for pika poop! These clues—and the rare sighting of a pika—tell the volunteers that the pikas are still in the area.

Volunteers also look for small piles of hay on the slopes where pikas live. Many animals that live in cold places hibernate in the winter. But pikas don’t hibernate. They save up food in the summer to keep themselves fed all year long. The critters collect wildflowers and grasses. They pile the plants up and let them dry in the sun. That way, the food won’t mold. Then they store the dried plants in their den before winter comes.

Finally, volunteers with the Colorado Pika Project look for pika poop! Volunteers don’t always see pikas. But these clues show that there are pikas in the area.

Searching for evidence of pika activity doesn’t just help scientists learn about pikas. It also helps researchers understand how climate change is affecting the region.

American pikas are an indicator species. Creatures that are indicator species can show researchers if an ecosystem is healthy or not. Pikas live at elevations of 8,000 to 12,000 feet. Their thick coats keep them warm when winds gust up to 75 miles per hour and temperatures plunge. But a warmer climate could leave them too hot to survive. It could also melt the snow that pikas use to insulate their winter homes.

Searching for evidence of pikas doesn’t just help scientists learn about these animals. It also helps researchers understand how climate change is affecting the region.

American pikas are an indicator species. That means that by studying them, researchers can learn if an ecosystem is healthy or not. Pikas live at elevations of 8,000 to 12,000 feet. Winds blow up to 75 miles per hour. Temperatures drop very low. The pikas’ thick coats keep them warm. But a warmer climate could leave them too hot to survive. It could also melt the snow that pikas use to insulate their winter homes.

This map shows a region in Rocky Mountain National Park that Colorado Pika Project members monitor. Answer the questions to learn more about where they have seen American pikas and signs of them.

This map shows a region in Rocky Mountain National Park that Colorado Pika Project members monitor. Answer the questions to learn more about where they have seen American pikas and signs of them.