Ever hear of a Pika? Neither did we, but they’re in the news lately.American pikas are small mammals, related to the rabbit, which reside in rocky, alpine areas of the western United States. They prefer the cool, somewhat moist climates that mountain “sky islands” usually have.
Unfortunately, these climate zones are being affected by global warming. The American pika may be the first animal studied to show a positive decline from the effects of climate change.
Of 25 pika habitats studied, 7 have become barren of pikas. Scientists believe the pika cannot easily migrate north to cooler temperatures to escape the climate changes, and remain trapped on the sky islands to die.
Some scientists feel the American pika is the canary in the coal mine of global warming.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering extending federal protections to the pika and a decision will be announced this Friday. If the American pika is placed on the Endangered Species list, it will become the first animal placed on the list due to climate change.
