The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small relative of rabbits and hares that thrives in cool, mountainous habitats, such as slopes of talus (loose rock) and lava fields. Pikas rely on snow cover for insulation and moisture. Highly sensitive to temperature changes, pikas struggle when temperatures are too warm. To stay cool, pikas rely on crevices and cavities in rocks for cover and shade. The effects of climate change, especially higher temperatures and reduced snowpack, are expected to negatively affect pika populations and their habitats. As a result, the American pika is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan.
In 2026, Utah’s Hogle Zoo launched Utah Pika Watch, in partnership with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and Colorado Mesa University. Modeled after Oregon Zoo’s Cascades Pika Watch program, Utah Pika Watch engages community scientists across the state to collect data on vulnerable pika populations. Because the Utah DWR conducts statewide pika monitoring every 6 years, surveys conducted by Utah Pika Watch volunteers help fill data gaps in the interim period. The yearly data collected through the Utah Pika Watch program can reveal notable short-term changes and inter-annual variation in pika populations.
From mid-June through August each year, trained community scientists visit designated survey sites in high-elevation habitats and conduct a 25-minute “sitting survey”. At each location, volunteers record signs of pika activity. The data can then help scientists track changes in and among pika populations over time, respond quickly to any potential declines, and prioritize appropriate management actions.
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