Heard any Pikas this summer in the mountains? Seen any? This cute rabbit relative that inhabits western U.S. and Canadian mountain talus slopes announces its presence with a loud nasal “beep” or “eenk.” It is heard more often than seen. As the atmosphere warms, the American Pika, aka Rock Rabbit or Coney, becomes imperiled. Pikas are heat intolerant. According to a Scientific American article http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=pika-endangered-species it only takes six hours of 77-degree-plus weather to kill them. To cope with increasing heat, Pikas may be forced to higher and higher elevations, possibly leading to their extinction.
Pikas need to be outdoors in the summer “haying.” They must gather stockpiles of vegetative matter to survive most of the year underground. By mixing in a few toxic, rot-resistant plants Pikas help preserve their hay bales during the long winter. In addition to the heat, Pikas worry about a host of predators, including eagles, hawks, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, weasels and dogs.
Earlier this year, there was a failed attempt to have Pikas added to the Endangered Species List. Let’s not allow these charming, niche-specific critters to literally fall through the cracks . Losing them would make the mountains a lonelier, less diverse and stable place.
