Wyoming Biologists Track Pika Populations in Rocky Mountains Amid Climate Change Concerns

For the first time, biologists have mapped the distribution of pikas in Wyoming’s Rocky Mountains, providing valuable insights into the potential impacts of climate change on these alpine-dwelling mammals, Wyo File reports.

The surveys, conducted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in 2020 and 2021, found pikas inhabiting nine mountainous regions across the state, including the Salt River, Snake River, Teton, and Wind River ranges.

Pikas are sensitive to temperature changes and serve as a key indicator species for the health of alpine ecosystems. As climate change increasingly threatens their habitat, biologists are using these surveys to track how the species is responding to rising temperatures. Dana Nelson, Nongame Mammal Biologist at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, emphasized the importance of this data in understanding how the pika population is being affected by environmental changes.

In total, the survey covered 167 sites, revealing that pikas occupied 57% of the suitable habitat in Wyoming. This baseline data will be essential for future surveys, which are planned every five to six years, depending on funding availability. Researchers collected additional information on factors such as slope angle, vegetative cover, and temperature variations to help understand the environmental conditions in which pikas thrive.

The surveys are part of a broader effort to monitor the effects of climate change on wildlife. While Wyoming’s central location in the pika’s range offers some hope, research suggests that these animals are already facing challenges. Studies in neighboring states like Idaho and Montana have shown that pikas have been lost from up to 36% of their historical habitats due to warming temperatures, lower snowpacks, and drier conditions.

Erik Beever, a research ecologist with the US Geological Survey, pointed out that habitat loss is already evident in other parts of the species’ range, and similar trends may occur in Wyoming. However, he noted that Wyoming’s pika populations might be somewhat buffered from the worst effects of climate change compared to areas at the edges of their range.

Ongoing research, including studies in Grand Teton National Park, suggests that some pika habitats in Wyoming may fare better than in other regions. A National Park Service-led study found that pika populations in Grand Teton could remain stable throughout the 21st century, unlike in other parks where populations are expected to decline.