<a href="http://www.earthjustice.org/index.html">Earthjustice</a>
The Fish and Wildlife Service said today that it will launch a year-long review to see if the American Pika is endangered by global warming. The American Pika is a small, furry, rabbit-related mammal whose habitat and range, conservationists say, has been severely restricted by global warming. The pika, not to be confused with the jerboa or Pikachu, lives in cold, mountainous regions of the Western US. As those foothills and mountains have warmed, the pika has been forced to make its home in higher elevations. Problem is, there’s a limit to how high they can go: the higher the elevation, the smaller the habitat.
If the pika receives endangered status next year, it will be the first mammal in the lower 48 states to receive protection due to global warming. The pika might make a great mascot against global warming. It’s small, furry, cute, has big ears and shiny eyes… to further the cuteness factor, the pika communicates with “whistles” and actually gathers wildflowers to nibble on. Take that, polar bears.
