![]() Kinley Tenzin completed his Undergraduate BSc in forestry from the University of the Philippines and his Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Edinburgh, UK. But it is rewarding, when on a cool, sunny morning, atop a rock, you listen in silence and suddenly to hear the amusing yet determined “eep” of the pika.ĭr. The destinations were often tricky – clambering up scree fields, crossing rivers, and hanging many a bear bag. It has allowed us to work in some of the most beautiful places surrounding Jackson. Stalking the pika has been a wonderful and challenging project. Understanding pika habitat characteristics will help us better predict their response to modeled climate change. It has been found that the pikas’ territories have shifted to higher, cooler elevations in the past several years, through studies conducted in Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. As the concern for climate change increases, pikas may serve as an excellent indicator species of change: they are temperature sensitive creatures. Surveys include listening for and observing pikas, identifying vegetation types, and documenting the habitat characteristics throughout the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Our team began occupancy surveys back in July, with the help of a research grant from 1% for the Tetons. They are quick to watch us, and quick to disappear. We have stood atop large boulders, listening for calls, only to hear a muffled “eep” from several feet below the rock. We have witnessed interesting and humorous habits: pikas, only six inches long, carrying stems and leaves that are easily twice their size. They do not hibernate and it is believed they are diurnal, throughout the entire year. And as we, the research technicians of the Conservation Research Center, hiked through sun and rain, and woke to frost on our tent, we still encountered the “eep” of the mighty pika, even in mid-October. They continue their search for plants, pile their cuttings, and wait for the snow to settle. Not so for the American pika (Ochotona princeps), smallest member of the rabbit family. Stalking the Pika: Researching the Cutest Animal on EarthĪs the snow begins to fall, one gets a sense that the animals are beginning to settle underground. Professional Development and Consulting.17, 2022 This story has been updated to correct the name of Alex Wells, co-director of the Colorado Pika Project, who originally was misidentified in this story. They are also great indicators of the health of our alpine eco-system,” Mueller said. ![]() They are a part of what makes the alpine here in Colorado special. I can remember the first time I saw a pika and the excitement I felt. She hopes the project helps the animal survive. Megan Mueller, with Rocky Mountain Wild and a co-director of the Colorado Pika Project, saw her first pika at the age of 6. Fish and Wildlife Service declined to extend Endangered Species Act protections to the animal even though some populations are in decline. The Rocky Mountains have been the habitat of pikas for 12,000 years, according to The National Wildlife Federation. The data gathered from the app is displayed on Colorado Pika Project’s website, including information on the number of sightings, location of pikas and how many were in one spot. For now, pika populations appear to be stable in Colorado, but their presence in Nevada and Oregon is on the decline, according to the pika project’s website.Ĭolorado man is accused of killing bear and her two cubs, faces felony charges As temperatures begin to rise and snowfall changes, the Colorado Pika Project wants to know how pikas are surviving and how they can be protected. Pikas tend to live in colder, high-altitude habitats. It’s like a scavenger hunt for the cutest thing out there.” Wells said. ![]() “The pika app lets me turn that burst of excitement into data that helps pika conservation. The app allows casual outdoors enthusiasts to send data on sightings, calls, scat and other signs of pika life in the mountains. ![]() The Colorado Pika Project last month launched an app called “Pika Patrol” that allows people to help wildlife researchers study pika populations. “It’s like a burst of excitement.”īut the pika may be at risk because of climate change. “When I’m up in the mountains, one of my favorite things is hearing a pika squeak or seeing one,” Andrew Wells, co-director of the Colorado Pika Project and community conservation coordinator at Denver Zoo, said. Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close MenuĪbove 8,000 feet in Colorado, pikas - a tiny, furry animal with large mouse-like ears - can be seen and heard on hiking and rock-climbing trails.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |