"Pika Quest: Exploring Glacier National Park's Hay Piles and Pellets"
Researchers and citizen science volunteers are teaming up to study the population of pikas in Glacier National Park, as the tiny rabbit-like creatures are losing habitat due to climate change. Volunteers collect and catalog pika pellets, which contain skin cells that will be analyzed for DNA to understand genetic connectivity and movement patterns. The study aims to assess changes in population density and identify key connectivity corridors to mitigate declining isolated populations. Early signs suggest that pikas are doing well in the park, but a full genetic map will not be available until the study concludes next year.