Zoo seeks pika watchers for summer season

Program returns with science, hiking and cuteness in the Columbia River Gorge

Looking to connect with something adorable this summer? The Oregon Zoo is recruiting volunteers to seek out one of the Columbia River Gorge’s fluffiest residents: the American pika. 

Cascades Pika Watch is a collaboration between organizations and volunteers convened by the zoo to locate and map pika populations. On May 8, 9 and 10, the zoo is offering free crash courses on how to identify pikas and participate in the project. 

Pikas are potato-sized members of the rabbit family, known for their squeak-toy alarm calls frequently heard among the rocky slopes of the Cascade volcanoes throughout the Columbia River Gorge. 

“Pikas live in beautiful places where people love to hike, and their charm level is off the charts, so they’re really an ideal species for participatory science,” said Cascades Pika Watch scientific advisor Dr. Johanna Varner. “They're also listed as a sensitive species by the state of Oregon, which is why we need a better understanding of how their populations and habitat could be changing.”   

Pikas’ particular habitat and temperature requirements may make them especially vulnerable to a warming climate — and especially interesting to biologists studying the effects of climate change. Pika Watch volunteers helped document the gorge population’s recovery following the 2017 Eagle Creek fire, and they’re eager to learn more.     

This year, volunteers will begin monitoring sites at the edges of the pika’s core habitat, where the Gorge passes into the dry, eastern rain shadow of the Cascades. The data could provide an early warning of changes that may occur elsewhere, allowing land managers to take action before widespread declines occur.

“Data from Cascades Pika Watch is helping us better understand the unique ecosystem in the Gorge, and it’s been amazing to see the positive impact it’s had on both people and pikas,” said Varner. “It’s open to anyone, and it’s a perfect opportunity to get outdoors and make a meaningful contribution to conservation science.” 

Cascades Pika Watch volunteers conduct regular surveys to track pika presence across the region. Sites are accessed via public hiking trails, and no special skills are required. Volunteers have the option to receive in-person or virtual training on how to identify pikas in the field. They then choose survey sites, where they scans boulders for signs of movement while listening for the pika’s signature squeaks. The data they generate is used by the Columbia Gorge Commission’s Vital Sign Indicators program to inform land management decisions.