How to help researchers track pika in Colorado

Biologists have mapped Wyoming’s pika habitat for the first time, revealing that these vulnerable mammals now occupy just 57% of the state’s suitable alpine areas. This data highlights the growing threat of climate change, as pikas are highly sensitive to temperature shifts. While Wyoming’s pika populations remain stable for now, they have already suffered significant habitat loss in places like Idaho and Montana due to rising temperatures and drier conditions. Although Wyoming’s more central lo

Have you ever heard a pika's call ("EEP! EEP!") while exploring Valles Caldera's lava domes? Let us know in the comments below! Pika live in rocky alpine environments in the highest elevations of Valles Caldera. They are considered an indicator species for detecting ecological effects of climate change. In response to increased climate warming, suitable habitat is shrinking, causing pika populations to decline in some areas. In other areas, their distribution is gradually creeping to higher elev